In Philadelphia, adults without a medical card cannot legally purchase or possess cannabis. Pennsylvania has not yet legalized adult-use marijuana, and true delivery—bringing cannabis directly to a customer’s home—is expressly prohibited. However, registered medical marijuana patients in Philadelphia do have limited options to order products remotely and pick them up safely and efficiently.
Medical-Only Access and No Home Delivery
Under Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16 of 2016), only patients with a valid medical marijuana ID card—and their caregivers—may purchase cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries. Adult-use cannabis remains illegal throughout the Commonwealth, including Philadelphia. True home delivery of medical or recreational cannabis is not allowed: dispensaries may not deliver, or contract third-party delivery services, to bring medical marijuana to a patient’s home or other off-site location.
Curbside and Remote Ordering Options
Although home delivery is banned, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Health authorized curbside pickup and remote ordering for medical patients. These provisions were later codified in law. Licensed dispensaries can serve patients curbside on their premises and accept online or phone orders for later pickup. Patients can place orders on a dispensary’s website or by phone, then arrive at the dispensary to pick up their products in person or remain in their vehicle for curbside service.
What Patients Must Have to Order
To use curbside or remote ordering, a patient must:
- Be 18 years or older. (Caregivers may order on behalf of minors with physician certification.)
- Hold a valid Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Registry card issued by the Department of Health. Applicants register online, submit proof of residency and a physician’s certification, and pay a state fee. Register for your Medical Card
- Present their medical marijuana card (or caregiver card) at pickup. Dispensary staff verify the card against the state’s electronic tracking system before releasing any products.
Purchase and Possession Limits
Pennsylvania law allows a dispensary to dispense up to a 90-day supply to a medical marijuana patient or caregiver in a single transaction. The Department of Health defines this as up to 192 medical marijuana units, depending on the form and dosage. A patient must have used nearly all of their previous 90-day supply (with seven days or less remaining) before a dispensary can dispense additional product.
Patients must also adhere to the dosage limits and product forms specified in their medical certification. Dispensary pharmacists work with patients to ensure purchases align with the physician’s guidance.
Possession without a medical marijuana card remains illegal. However, in Philadelphia, possession of 30 grams or less of cannabis is decriminalized and typically results in a civil citation and a fine, rather than criminal prosecution.
Why True Delivery Is Unavailable—and What’s Next
While many states have adopted delivery services for medical or adult-use cannabis, Pennsylvania limits cannabis transport to business-to-business operations between licensed growers, processors, and dispensaries. Vehicles must meet strict requirements, including GPS tracking, security personnel, and state authorization.
Legislators have introduced several bills aimed at legalizing adult-use marijuana and enabling cannabis delivery for consumers, but as of May 2025, none have passed.
In Review
For now, Philadelphia residents may only order cannabis products if they are registered in the state’s medical marijuana program. While direct-to-home delivery is not permitted, medical patients can place remote orders with licensed dispensaries and retrieve them via in-store or curbside pickup. Until laws change, compliance with these regulations is essential to access cannabis legally and safely.