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Cannabis in Pennsylvania

Medical cannabis was legalized in Pennsylvania in 2016, and licensed dispensaries began selling it to patients in 2018. Legislation has been introduced to legalize adult-use cannabis, but state lawmakers have not passed it in the past. However, the state’s governor has publicly stated his support for recreational marijuana legalization.

Overview of Key Pennsylvania Cannabis Laws

Is medical cannabis allowed? Yes

Is adult-use cannabis allowed? No

Personal Laws

Cannabis has not been decriminalized in Pennsylvania. Possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana is treated as a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500 and up to 30 days in jail. Possession of more than 30 grams of marijuana is penalized with a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to a year in prison.

Personal Possession

Overall Possession: None

Registered Medical Patient Possession: 30-day supply

Non-Pennsylvania Resident Possession: None

Personal Growing

Personal cannabis growing is not allowed in Pennsylvania.

Registered Medical Patient Growing: None

Medical Cannabis Patient Qualification and Registry

Patients with qualifying conditions who receive certifications for medical marijuana from physicians approved to participate in the state’s medical cannabis program may apply for medical marijuana ID cards. A patient may select two caregivers, and caregivers may have up to four patients.

Qualifying medical conditions include:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Autism
  • Cancer, including remission therapy
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, and other associated neuropathies
  • Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV / AIDS
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Intractable seizures
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Neurodegenerative diseases
  • Neuropathies
  • Opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective, or for which adjunctive therapy is indicated in combination with primary therapeutic interventions
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Terminal illness
  • Tourette syndrome

Business Laws

Vertical integration or “license stacking” is allowed in Pennsylvania, which means a company can hold multiple licenses across the Pennsylvania marijuana supply chain (e.g., both cultivation and dispensary licenses). The growing and processing functions are required to be integrated under a single Grower/Processor license.

However, there are limitations to vertical integration in Pennsylvania. No more than five grower/processors may be issued dispensary permits based on the current law. If the law changes to increase the number of grower/processors in the state, then no more than 20% of the total number of grower/processors may also be issued dispensary permits.

License Types

  • Grower/Processor
  • Dispensary

License Fees

  • Grower/Processor: $10,000 application fee and $200,000 license fee
  • Dispensary: $5,000 application fee and $30,000 license fee

License Timeline

Business licenses will be issued in phases with the first phase ending in 2018. Licenses are distributed based on need across six geographic regions.

The law allows for up to 50 dispensary licenses with each licensee having a maximum of three locations (total of 150 dispensaries in the state). Only 27 dispensary licenses were awarded in phase one.

A total of 28 grower/processor licenses are allowed according to the current law with 12 permitted to be issued during phase one.

Testing

Cannabis testing is required in Pennsylvania. There is no limit on the number of testing labs that may be approved to conduct cannabis testing in the state. Labs must be independently owned and operated.

Training

There is no required training for cannabis industry business owners or workers in Pennsylvania.

Learn More about Cannabis in Pennsylvania and How to Work or Start a Business in the Pennsylvania Cannabis Industry

Leafy Green Agency offers a variety of certification seminars for people who want to start businesses, find jobs, get promotions, or invest in the cannabis industry in Pennsylvania and across the country. Follow the link to learn more about our educational seminars.

Sources and More Information

Data current as of 1/18/20.