Multiple sclerosis, spasticity and Pennsylvania's medical marijuana list
Multiple sclerosis appears by name on Pennsylvania's list of 24 serious medical conditions. Several neighboring entries describe problems MS can bring, including spasticity, nerve damage, movement problems and chronic pain. A registered physician decides which of them fit you, and the full conditions list shows all 24 in the Department of Health's wording.
The entries, in the Department's words
| Official entry | What to know |
|---|---|
| Multiple sclerosis | Listed by name, with no qualifiers about severity or prior treatment. |
| Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, and other associated neuropathies | Requires objective neurological signs of intractable spasticity, not symptoms alone. |
| Neurodegenerative diseases | A category, added effective May 17, 2018. Whether a diagnosis falls within it is the physician's call. |
| Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders | A category, added effective May 17, 2018. |
| Neuropathies | Listed on its own, without further qualifiers. |
| Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain | Broadened effective May 17, 2018, so it is not limited to nerve pain. |
With multiple sclerosis named outright, the diagnosis itself is the main question. The other entries still matter, because a certification can list up to 10 conditions, and naming each one that applies gives a more complete record of why you were certified. Our guide to Tourette syndrome and movement disorders covers the movement-related entries as a group.
Reading the spasticity entry closely
The longest entry on Pennsylvania's list concerns damage to the brain or spinal cord, and its key phrase is "objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity." Two words decide how far it reaches. "Objective" points to findings a clinician can document, not only what you report. "Intractable" generally describes a problem that has not responded to standard treatment.
If spasticity is part of your MS, neurologist notes that describe it, and the treatments tried for it, are what a certifying physician would want to see. The same entry also covers "other associated neuropathies." Our neuropathy guide compares it with the two other nerve-related entries.
Who can certify you
Pennsylvania limits certification to MDs and DOs with an active state license who have registered with the Department of Health and completed its four-hour approved training. Your neurologist may or may not be registered. If not, the neurologist's records can still support an evaluation by a registered physician. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants cannot certify, even if they manage much of your care.
Since Act 44 of 2021, a registered physician can certify you through real-time audio or video. On a day when fatigue or mobility makes travel hard, a video call from home is a practical option. Our page on online evaluations explains what counts as a valid remote visit.
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 →Preparing for the evaluation
- Records that confirm the diagnosis, such as neurologist notes and imaging reports.
- A short description of current symptoms and how they affect walking, sleep, work or daily tasks.
- A list of treatments tried, including disease-modifying therapy and any medicines for spasticity or pain.
- Every current medication and supplement, so the physician can consider interactions.
- The entries you think apply, in the Department's wording from the table above.
Forms allowed in Pennsylvania
Dispensaries may sell pills, oils, tinctures, liquids, topical forms such as gels, creams and ointments, forms for vaporization or nebulization, and flower for vaporization. Smoking is illegal. Dispensaries sell no edibles, but patients and caregivers may mix medical marijuana into food to make it easier to take, which can help when swallowing pills is difficult. The patient rules page covers possession limits and packaging.
What research says
Research on cannabis and MS has looked mostly at symptoms, especially spasticity and pain, rather than the course of the disease. Some studies suggest cannabinoids may ease spasticity or pain for some people with MS, while others find small or inconsistent effects, and side effects such as dizziness and fatigue are reported. Medical marijuana is not a treatment for MS itself and does not replace care from your neurologist. A registered physician can weigh the evidence against your history.
If balance is already a problem, try any new product at home, seated, at a time when you do not need to go anywhere, and tell your neurologist what you are taking.
When someone else needs to shop for you
A patient may designate up to two caregivers. The Department says homebound adults, and adults who would benefit from assistance, can be registered through a caregiver. A caregiver must be a Pennsylvania resident, at least 21 unless the Department authorizes otherwise, and must pass a fingerprint-based background check; the Department says approval can take three to four weeks after the fingerprint appointment. The caregiver guide explains the process.
Next steps
Gather your records, open a registry account with a Pennsylvania driver's license or state ID showing your current address, and book a registered physician in person or by video. After certification, pay the $50 annual fee within 60 days, or $0 if you are enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC, and allow about three weeks for the card. If pain is your main concern, the chronic pain guide covers that entry in depth.
Questions people ask
Do I need spasticity to qualify with MS?
No. Multiple sclerosis is listed by name with no qualifiers. The separate entry for nervous tissue damage requires objective neurological signs of intractable spasticity, but that is a different entry. The registered physician decides whether you are certified.
Can my neurologist certify me?
Only if he or she is an MD or DO with an active Pennsylvania license who has registered with the Department of Health and completed its four-hour approved training. Otherwise the neurologist's records can support an evaluation by a registered physician.
Can MS and chronic pain both go on my certification?
Yes, if the physician finds that both apply. A Pennsylvania certification can list up to 10 serious medical conditions.
Worth reading next
Sources
- Register for the Medical Marijuana Program, PA.gov (official condition list)
- PA DOH Office of Medical Marijuana Report, July 2022 (PDF)
- Resources for Medical Professionals, PA Department of Health
- Patients and Caregivers, PA Department of Health
- Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16 of 2016), PA General Assembly
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.