Medical Marijuana Programs Across the United States

Currently, there are 25 states and DC that allow medical marijuana in the United States. In the state of Pennsylvania, those who want medical marijuana must have an approved medical condition, such as epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, or PTSD.

Medical marijuana may not be dispensed to a patient in dry leaf or plant form but may only be dispensed in pill, oil, or topical forms. New guidelines for the Safe Harbor provision in the state allow parents and caregivers to administer medical marijuana obtained from outside the state of Pennsylvania. Patients receive a Safe Harbor letter, which is to be carried whenever medical marijuana is being transported outside the home.

Here’s a list of the other states that allow medical marijuana and their guidelines. This way, you can see how Pennsylvania stacks up compared to the others.

Alaska

Medical marijuana patients in Alaska qualify with written documentation from their physician under approved conditions like HIV, glaucoma, cancer, and more. Patients may legally cultivate their own pot plants but not more than six. All medical marijuana patients must enroll in the state’s patient registry and possess a valid identification card. To set up shop in the medical marijuana business, business owners must be 21 years old and hold no felony convictions.

Arizona

Qualifying medical marijuana patients in Arizona must have a doctor’s written certification specifying a debilitating condition that may benefit from marijuana. Patients may obtain medical marijuana from authorized home cultivation or a dispensary. Once a patient receives a registry identification card, the Arizona State of Health Services provides a list of operating dispensaries. All marijuana growers must hold a license to operate a dispensary in addition to holding a separate license to grow.

California

The state of California removes criminal penalties on the use and cultivation of marijuana by patients who receive written recommendation from their doctor. While qualified patients and caregivers are limited to six mature marijuana plants, S.B. 420 allows for larger amounts when recommended by a doctor. Individuals and groups must obtain a business license and remit sales tax through the use of a seller’s permit.

Colorado

Qualified medical marijuana patients in Colorado are limited to no more than six marijuana plants or two ounces of marijuana. House Bill 1284 provides a regulatory framework for dispensaries and Senate Bill 109 helps prevent abuse and fraud. The Marijuana Enforcement Division handles licensing and enforcement of legal marijuana business regulations. The state requires any person with over six plans to become a business under the local code and maintain a city Medical Marijuana Business license as well as a state license from the State Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division.

Connecticut

Medical marijuana patients in Connecticut must register with the Department of Consumer Protection and obtain a valid registration certificate. In 2016, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection added six new qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. These include regional pain syndrome, severe psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, chronic radiculopathy, psoriatic arthritis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The maximum monthly amount is 2.5 ounces unless otherwise specified by a physician. Connecticut requires dispensary registration with the state’s Department of Consumer Protection for businesses.

District of Columbia (DC)

Patients in DC are limited to two dried ounces of marijuana per month in DC. DC’s adoption of an emergency amendment to Title 22 outlines the process and procedures for medical marijuana patients, caregivers and dispensaries. Review the ruling to learn more. For now, a legal marijuana business in D.C. is limited to retail sales of marijuana accessories

Delaware

Delaware’s law prohibits the cultivation of medical marijuana at home but allows for non-profit distribution by compassion centers. Qualifying medical marijuana patients may possess six ounces of pot with a physician’s written recommendation. Licenses for marijuana businesses are rarely available in Delaware.

Hawaii

Medical marijuana patients in Hawaii may possess an “adequate supply” of cannabis. However, the supply is not to exceed more than four ounces of marijuana or seven plants. Licenses for marijuana businesses are not currently available.

Illinois

In Illinois, children under 18 can be treated for medical conditions with non-smokable forms of marijuana, as well as adults. Adequate supply is defined as 2.5 ounces of cannabis during a 14-day time period. Medical marijuana patients are not permitted to cultivate cannabis.

Maine

The limit of cannabis for medical marijuana patients in Maine is 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana. The state has a registry identification program for patients and caregivers and stipulates the operation of dispensaries. In Maine, licenses are provided but rarely available

Maryland

The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission and the state’s Department of Health of Mental Hygiene develop the patient registry, dispensary licensing, and identification cards for qualified medical marijuana patients. Patients are allowed to possess a 30-day supply of medical marijuana with the amount being determined by the commission. Licenses are not yet available for marijuana businesses.

Massachusetts

Patients or caregivers may cultivate medical marijuana in an enclosed, locked facility. Patients are permitted to have a 60-day supply, which is defined as 10 ounces. The state plans to issue licenses for up to 35 dispensaries, though it is unclear when or how additional licenses will be made available.

Michigan

Qualifying medical marijuana patients in Michigan must have medical documentation and registry identification cards. Cultivation is limited to 12 marijuana plants. The state of Michigan does not authorize businesses, such as dispensaries or cultivators.

Minnesota

Smoking medical marijuana is prohibited in Minnesota. It must be in the form of a liquid, oil, pill or vapory delivery method. Licenses for marijuana businesses are not available.

Montana

Medical marijuana patients in Montana are permitted to cultivate 12 seedlings and four maturing flowering cannabis plants. In addition, they are allowed to possess one ounce of marijuana.

Nevada

The state of Nevada has 15 open dispensaries for medical marijuana. Patients are only allowed to home cultivate in specific circumstances. In Nevada, the law provides for the establishment of 66 dispensaries and 200 production facilities.

New Hampshire

The state of New Hampshire licensed a limited number of Alternative Treatment Centers for the cultivation and sale of marijuana. Currently, no new licenses are being given.

New Jersey

Medical marijuana patients must meet specific medical conditions with medical documentation to receive marijuana for treatment. The state’s licensed businesses are known as Alternative Treatment Centers. Six centers have been licensed and no additional licenses are being issued at this time.

New York

New York is currently in the process of selecting previous applicants to be licensed for the manufacture and distribution of medical marijuana. It intends to license five grower licenses and dispensary licenses from its pooled applicants.

Oregon

Those selling marijuana in Oregon must be registered with the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program. Separate licenses are required for dispensary operators and growers.

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, the state licenses marijuana businesses as Compassion Centers. Applications can only be submitted during the announced application period. Medical marijuana patients qualify for marijuana if approved medical conditions are supported by medical documentation.

Vermont

In Vermont, the state announces when licenses for marijuana become available. Only four dispensaries are permitted in the state to cultivate, manufacture, sell, or dispense marijuana products.

Washington

The state requires marijuana businesses to hold a license as a retailer, processor or producer of marijuana. Only one license can be held. The number of available licenses are limited.

If you’d like to know more about getting into the business of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, sign up for Legally Rooted’s email newsletter. You can also contact Legally Rooted for more information about starting your own medical marijuana business in Pennsylvania.