The forms Pennsylvania allows
The Medical Marijuana Act lists every form a Pennsylvania dispensary may sell, and the list is the same in Lancaster County as in any other: pills; oils; topical forms such as gels, creams and ointments; forms for vaporization or nebulization; tinctures; liquids; and dry leaf or plant form, meaning flower, for vaporization. Anything outside that list is not a legal medical product in the state.
Which form suits you is a conversation for your certifying physician. A pill or tincture gives a measured dose; a topical goes on the skin; vaporized products act differently from swallowed ones. The physician who certifies you knows your condition and your other medications.
Flower, but never smoked
Flower became a legal form effective May 17, 2018, and the Department of Health reports it reached dispensaries in August 2018. It came with a condition that still stands: the act makes it unlawful to smoke medical marijuana. Flower is sold for vaporization, which heats the plant material without burning it. There is no exception for smoking at home. Our guide to vaping versus smoking goes into the practical side.
No edibles on the shelf, but you can cook
Pennsylvania dispensaries may not sell edibles. The law does let patients and caregivers mix medical marijuana into food or drink to make it easier to take. In practice, that usually means buying an oil, tincture or liquid and adding a measured amount at home. Our page on edibles for Pennsylvania patients explains how to do that carefully, including storage away from children.
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 →How much, and how to carry it
A dispensary may provide up to a 90-day supply of individual doses. Keep unused product in its original package and carry your Department of Health ID card whenever you have medical marijuana with you. Home growing is not allowed. The patient rules page covers the remaining limits, including the workplace rules.
If you mix a tincture into food, label the container clearly at home. Food that contains medical marijuana can look like anything else in the refrigerator.
Finding a dispensary in Lancaster County
Use the Department's list of dispensaries with product (PDF), current as of September 15, 2026. It lists addresses, ZIP codes and phone numbers. Call ahead to ask whether the form you want is in stock.
Getting the card first
If you do not have a card yet, the steps are statewide: register with a Pennsylvania driver's license or state ID showing your current address, get certified by an MD or DO registered with the Department (in person or by real-time audio or video), pay $50 within 60 days, or $0 if enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC, and wait about three weeks for the card.
Nearby, see our guides to York and Harrisburg. Your next step: decide with your physician which form fits your condition, then check the dispensary list for stock.
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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.