An Overview of Marijuana Laws in Pennsylvania

While Pennsylvania is still lagging behind some other states in terms of legalizing marijuana, the state is not completely archaic. In 2016, the state legalized marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes.

Below is a quick overview of some of the marijuana laws currently on the books in Pennsylvania:

• Possession: State-approved medical marijuana cardholders may possess up to a 30-day supply of approved cannabis products at any one time. Although dried cannabis flower is now legal in Pennsylvania, it is still illegal to smoke dried cannabis flower. Patients must consume it via vaporization if using it for medicinal purposes. Any possession of marijuana that is not for approved medical use is still illegal.
• Purchasing limits: Dispensaries may only sell up to a 30-day supply to a patient at a time and are required to keep careful records for each amount obtained by patients. Patients may refill their 30-day supply during the final seven-day period of that 30-day allotment.
• Qualification: There are many different types of medical conditions that will qualify a person for medical marijuana. Just a few examples include Crohn’s disease, cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• DUI: Driving under the influence of marijuana remains unlawful in Pennsylvania.
• Transporting: Patients may transport medical marijuana within state lines, so long as it remains within legal possession limits.
• Cultivation: Home cultivation of marijuana remains illegal.

For more information regarding marijuana laws in Pennsylvania, speak with knowledgeable Reading drug crimes defense lawyer David R. Eshelman.