Pennsylvania is one of the states in the U.S. where you can legally use marijuana as a medical treatment for certain conditions. If you possess a medical marijuana ID card, you can purchase it from any local dispensary.
If you want to avoid legal penalties for using marijuana to treat your illness, you must follow the process all the way through and obtain your medicine legitimately. The first step is to evaluate if your medical condition could be improved with the use of marijuana. You can talk with a doctor to discuss how marijuana could affect you and to find out if your condition even qualifies for a medical marijuana ID card.
What conditions qualify?
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides a list of all conditions that may qualify someone to get medical marijuana. Beyond having a terminal illness, some of the qualifying conditions include Tourette syndrome, sickle cell anemia, intractable pain, Parkinson’s disease, intractable seizures, neuropathies, post-traumatic stress disorder, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Even if you are only mildly affected by one of these conditions, you may still be able to get your card, but first, you need to get evaluated by a doctor.
Who can evaluate you for medical marijuana?
While the opinion of your primary care provider may influence your decision, he or she may or may not be able to submit your recommendation. Physicians who recommend people must register through the Department of Health. If such a physician certifies that you suffer from one of the qualifying conditions, you should be set to finish the process of getting your card from the Medical Marijuana Registry.
