The four steps, as they apply in Allentown
Pennsylvania's Department of Health runs a single statewide program, so an Allentown resident follows exactly the same path as someone in Erie or Lancaster. The order is what trips people up.
- Create an account in the Department's patient registry. You need a Pennsylvania driver's license or state ID showing your current address, and a working email. If you recently moved within the Valley, update the ID first; the address has to be current.
- See an MD or DO registered with the Department, who reviews your condition and decides whether it fits one of the 24 on the list. The visit can be in person or over real-time audio or video, under Act 44 of 2021.
- Return to the registry and pay the annual fee. You have 60 days from the date the certification is submitted; after that it expires and you need a new one.
- Wait for the card. The Department suggests about 7 days for printing and about 14 days for delivery.
Our full application guide explains each step and what to do if something goes wrong.
The fee, and who pays nothing
The state charges $50 once every 12 months, regardless of how many cards you are issued in that period. Lehigh County residents enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC pay $0, a waiver the Department introduced on March 1, 2022, under the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program. There is no separate discount for veterans. Our guide to the $0 card fee explains who qualifies.
The certification itself is priced by the practitioner or service, not the state, and you will need a new one each year to renew.
Need a physician certification?
Online evaluations are available for Pennsylvania residents. Code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off. The physician, not the booking service, decides whether you are certified.
Book my PA evaluation →Finding a dispensary from Allentown
Pennsylvania had 192 operating dispensaries as of March 1, 2026. For locations, rely on the Department's list of dispensaries with product (PDF), which gives addresses, ZIP codes and phone numbers and is current as of September 15, 2026. Searching for both Allentown and Bethlehem ZIP codes gives you a fuller picture of what is nearby in the Valley.
On a first visit, bring your ID card and expect pills, oils, tinctures, liquids, topicals and products for vaporization, including flower. Smoking is illegal, and dispensaries sell no edibles.
Pay the fee the same day your physician tells you the certification has been submitted. The 60-day window is the easiest deadline in the process to miss.
Neighbors in the Lehigh Valley and beyond
Bethlehem sits next door and spans two counties; our Bethlehem guide covers the workplace side of the law. For Berks County, see the Reading guide. Your next step: check that your ID shows your current address, then open your registry account.
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This page explains Pennsylvania law and Department of Health guidance in general terms; it is not medical or legal advice, and only a registered physician can certify a patient.