Since 2016, Pennsylvania’s compassionate medical cannabis legislation, SB3, has offered those with certain medical conditions relief in the form of medical marijuana. Recently, Pennsylvania surpassed $1 billion in all-time sales of medical marijuana. Evidently, the program is quite successful.

If you’re a Pennsylvania resident and interested in finding out if you qualify for medical marijuana, then read on for all you need to know.

Is Marijuana Legal In Pennsylvania?

Medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania, but recreational use is illegal. In some cities, being caught with a small amount of marijuana will not get you in trouble, but it does remain illegal at the state level.

Qualifying Medical Conditions For MMJ In Pennsylvania

Several conditions qualify you for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Anyone with a terminal illness qualifies, as well as anyone diagnosed with:

• Autism
• Sickle cell anemia
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Severe intractable or chronic pain
• Cancer
• PTSD
• Crohn’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Damage to the spinal cord
• Neuropathies
• Epilepsy
• HIV
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Seizures
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Cancer remission therapy is also a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Children under the age of 18 with a medical condition that qualifies under the law can also be given an MMJ card. A parent, legal guardian, or caregiver will need to administer the MMJ to the minor under the Safe Harbor Letter, which allows them to possess and administer MMJ on behalf of the minor.

Anyone who is registered as an MMJ patient (and their caregiver) is protected from discrimination, arrest, and prosecution under the MMJ laws in the state. These legal protections do not cover the user or caregiver until their MMJ card has been received. It’s also important to note that it is not required for employers to accommodate the use of MMJ by employees on-site.

Having A Physician Certify Your Condition

Under Pennsylvania law, patients must be under the care of a doctor who can issue them certification for medical marijuana during an in-person visit. Certifications are required to state that the patient does indeed have one of the qualifying conditions and that it is believed they will benefit from the use of medical marijuana. A doctor must register and report to the state Department of Health if the qualifying patient no longer needs access to MMJ due to improved status in their condition.

Limits On Usage

There are only certain types of products legally available in Pennsylvania for MMJ users: oils, creams, tinctures, gels, pills, ointments, non-whole plant forms for consumption through vaporization, and liquid.

It is not legal to sell MMJ edibles at MMJ dispensaries in Pennsylvania. However, it is legal to introduce MMJ products into items you eat or drink if that is how the patients prefer to administer them. You cannot smoke MMJ, either. Dried flower vaporization is now legal in the state, but it still cannot be smoked.

MMJ Dispensaries In Pennsylvania

Only 150 dispensaries are allowed to legally operate in the state at once. Each dispensary can have up to three locations. Dispensaries must submit applications to become state-sanctioned.

Fees For A Pennsylvania MMJ Card

There is a $50 fee to apply for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. You’ll need a state-issued identification, such as a driver’s license with a current address, to apply, and a background check must be completed.

Can You Use A Pennsylvania MMJ Card In Another State?

Using an MMJ card from another state to access medical marijuana is called reciprocity. In Pennsylvania, no reciprocity is offered. The state does not recognize the MMJ programs of other states; its MMJ program is only open to residents of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania medical marijuana program is a great thing for the 300,000+ residents who have taken advantage of it so far. If you have questions about MMJ in PA, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which administers the program, to have your questions answered. You should also discuss this program with your doctor if you feel you qualify for it, and if it might help you to live a more productive, pain-free life.

Featured image by Scott Serhat Duygun on Unsplash

The post Medical Marijuana In Pennsylvania Just Surpassed $1bn In All-Time Sales: But What Are The Qualifying Conditions? appeared first on MMJRecs.

Marijuana was legalized in five more states on Election Day in November 2020. New Jersey, Arizona, and Montana all voted to legalize recreational marijuana, while South Dakota legalized medical and recreational marijuana and Mississippi voted to legalize medical marijuana.

These votes are another leap forward in the medical marijuana revolution that has been sweeping the country over the past decade. With so many states now voting in favor of medical and recreational marijuana legalization, surely it is only a matter of time before marijuana – of the medical variety, at least – becomes legal at the federal level. It seems more and more clear that the federal ban on marijuana is out of step with public opinion.

But it is still difficult to know what will happen next and what the timeline will be. It seems like the tide is only moving in one direction – but how long will it take for MMJ to become legal nationwide and on the federal level? What does the 2020 election mean for medical marijuana? Will these positive 2020 marijuana legalization ballots lead to federal legalization? Will marijuana be legalized in 2021? Which presidential candidate supports legalization? And what are Joe Biden’s marijuana policies?

What Does The 2020 Election Mean For Medical Marijuana?

Overall, the 2020 election results were very positive for medical marijuana patients and the MMJ industry. The COVID pandemic has hit many state economies hard, and there is a recognition that legal marijuana, whether medical or recreational, is a big money-maker. The election has shown, through the passing of all marijuana legalization bills (and the support for Joe Biden, who is MMJ-friendly), that there is huge support for MMJ legalization.

2020 Marijuana Legalization Ballot

The 2020 marijuana legalization ballots were a big step in the direction of nationwide legalization. With all five marijuana legalization ballots being passed, there are now 15 states in which recreational marijuana is legal. Medical marijuana is now legal in all states except three.

Will Marijuana Be Legalized In 2021?

Despite the ever-increasing amount of legal marijuana states, and the legalization trend only moving in one direction, it seems unlikely that marijuana will be fully legalized in 2021. Both presidential candidates support states’ rights to choose, and with three states still holding out on legalizing MMJ, it seems unlikely that the federal government will legalize in the near future.

With recreational marijuana still only legal in 15 states, it is highly unlikely that the federal government will legalize recreational marijuana potentially against the wishes of a large number of states.

Which Presidential Candidate Supports Legalization?

Both of the main presidential candidates in the 2020 election supported states’ rights to choose whether marijuana is legal or not, to what extent, and in what form.

Joe Biden Marijuana Policies

Joe Biden is in favor of medical marijuana legalization and allowing states to set their own MMJ policies. He has stated his support for modest federal marijuana policy reform, for marijuana decriminalization, and for expungements for people with marijuana convictions. However, he does not support full federal legalization of recreational marijuana.

Medical Marijuana Card Advantages

Even in states in which recreational marijuana is legal, it is still an advantage to have a medical marijuana card. An MMJ card means that you get priority in times of shortage. Medical marijuana can also be priced more cheaply than recreational varieties, and possession limits can be higher for medical marijuana patients.

What Are the Qualifying Conditions For A Medical Marijuana Card?

The qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana card vary state by state. Some states are very liberal. In Oklahoma, for example, there is no list of official qualifying conditions. An OK MMJ doctor can prescribe MMJ for any condition that they believe would be improved by MMJ treatment. Most other states are not so liberal, however.

The following conditions will qualify you for an MMJ card in most states:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chemotherapy-induced anorexia
• Chronic pain
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Elevated intraocular pressure
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Lupus
• Moderate to severe vomiting
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Nausea
• Parkinson’s disease
• Persistent muscle spasms
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Seizures
• Severe pain
• Spinal cord injury or disease
• Traumatic brain injury
• Wasting syndrome

How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card

The best way to get a medical marijuana card is to arrange an online consultation with an MMJ doctor through MMJRecs. MMJRecs will arrange a face-to-face video consultation with an MMJ doctor in your state who will verify that you qualify for MMJ treatment. You will then be emailed an MMJ letter, which you can submit to your local MMJ authorities.

Featured image by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

The post What Does The 2020 Election Mean For Medical Marijuana? appeared first on MMJRecs.

Florida residents can finally purchase medical marijuana edibles thanks to new legislation in the state. The Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use announced in August of 2020 that medical marijuana dispensaries can start to sell medical marijuana edibles in the state.

While you may be celebrating, some things need to be understood about this new option. Here’s what the Florida law about medical marijuana says and all the important information you need to know about how to take advantage of this option.

What Are Medical Marijuana Edibles?

Medical marijuana edibles are a line of THC-infused food products, capsules, and lozenges. They produce long-lasting and safe effects for those who utilize medical marijuana to treat medical conditions. They promote euphoria and relaxation and increase the appetite as they also work to help quell anxiety and fatigue.

Florida Medical Marijuana Edibles Law

Medical marijuana has been legal in the state of Florida for several years, but legalizing edibles was delayed. This was done in order for the OMMU to determine product standards that are safe for medical marijuana users.

The edibles sold in the state of Florida must comply with the statutes that help to ensure safe food production. Plus, each edible is required to have the THC symbol placed prominently on its packaging.

A few other regulations required of medical marijuana edibles under the law include:

• No more than 10 milligrams of THC in a single serving edible
• No more than 200 milligrams of THC in multiple serving edibles
• THC potency total must be printed clearly on the label and it may not vary by more than 15% of the potency from the certificate of analysis
• All edible portions must be stamped with the THC content universal symbol unless the portion size is too small to accommodate it

The law also clarifies that medical marijuana edibles cannot contain color additives that are unnatural. That means only vegetable or fruit colorings may be used.

Medical Marijuana Edibles In Florida: Product Shapes Limited

Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of children, THC-infused edibles must adhere to stringent appearance guidelines. THC gummies can only be in the shape of a diamond, oval, square, parallelogram, rectangle, circle, or triangle. The packaging must also not attract attention, which means no bright, fun packaging can be used. It simply cannot look like candy for children in any way.

Florida MMJ Laws: What Types of Edibles Can Be Purchased in Florida?

Edibles in every category are now regulated in Florida by Standards for Production of Edibles under the OMMU. There are no real surprises here, since companies that produce medical marijuana edibles in Florida can now develop these types of products:

• Chocolates
• Lozenges
• Baked goods
• Gelatins

The only caveat is that chocolate-based edibles cannot contain fruit, marshmallows, caramel, nuts, nougat, honey, or any other type of specialty filling. It can be formulated only with carob, milk, or dark chocolate.

How Edibles Are Different Than Smoking Medical Marijuana

For many who cannot tolerate smoking cannabis, edibles offer a convenient, safe, and easy way to get a dosage of THC to help manage medical conditions. The main way that eating THC differs from smoking it is that it can take a while to feel the effects of an edible. This is due to the fact that the edible must pass through the digestive system and be absorbed, which simply takes longer than taking in through the lungs or skin.

In general, the effects of edibles last for about five to six hours, but this differs from person to person. How much THC you consume has a direct impact on how long the effects last. That’s why it’s always recommended that, if you’re new to edibles, you start slow and work your way up to a dose that works for you. This allows you to avoid uncomfortable effects that are more intense and last longer than you want.

Get Your Florida MMJ Card

To take advantage of the new edibles available in Florida, you need an MMJ card from a qualified and state-certified physician. Aside from having a doctor qualify your medical condition, you must also produce proof of your residency in the state. Then you can enjoy access to many different MMJ products.

Featured image by Herbadea Berlin on Unsplash

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