PA Announces Changes To Medical Marijuana Program

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania has announced key changes in its medical marijuana program that aim to ease accessibility and affordability for patients.

The Department of Health of said that new services are available through Act 44, passed in 2021, which eliminates identification card fees and background check fees for eligible patients and caregivers, among other benefits.

“The department is pleased to be able to expand assistance to Medical Marijuana patients and caregivers who may be experiencing financial hardships,” Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said. “Patients deserve to have access to their medicine to treat medical conditions and cost should not be a barrier.”

Both patients and caregivers in medical marijuana programs can register with the state's financial hardship program to receive the benefits.

The ultimate phase of Act 44 will provide a monetary benefit — the exact amount has not been determined — to patients to help them pay for treatment. The "infrastructure and support system" to execute this phase is still being developed.

It wasn't the only marijuana-related announcement made by the state Friday. The Department of Health has added a ninth clinical registrant to its medical marijuana research program, which works to identify effective strains under varying conditions. The business, Story of PA CR, will be partnered with Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine for the research.

“This research is essential to providing physicians with more evidence-based information to make clinical decisions for their patients," Klinepeter added. "It is the cornerstone of our program and the key to our clinically based, patient-focused program for people suffering with approved serious medical conditions.”

The state has registered more than 729,000 patients and caregivers for its medical marijuana program. There are 155 dispensaries currently open statewide, in addition to 33 growers operating within the state.