Cannabis Regulations in Pennsylvania (2026)
21 rules on the books across Pennsylvania, 11 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Home Cultivation
Rules for growing cannabis plants at home, including plant count limits, indoor vs. outdoor growing, and visibility and odor requirements.
Dispensary Zoning
Where cannabis businesses may locate, the zones that allow retail, the buffer distances from schools and parks, and the cities that ban commercial cannabis activity entirely.
Pennsylvania: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsThe Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act establishes statewide siting rules for dispensaries, including a 1,000-foot…
Read full rule →Bensalem
Significant RestrictionsBensalem Township allows a medical marijuana dispensary only as a conditional use in the G-C General Commercial…
Read full rule →Bristol Township
Significant RestrictionsIn Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, a medical marijuana dispensary is Use D31, a conditional use in the C Commercial…
Read full rule →Haverford
Significant RestrictionsIn Haverford Township, a medical marijuana dispensary is a conditional use in the C-5 Shopping Center Commercial…
Read full rule →Lower Paxton
Significant RestrictionsLower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, treats a medical marijuana dispensary as a permitted conditional use under §…
Read full rule →Philadelphia
Significant RestrictionsMedical marijuana dispensaries are zoned use-by-use in Philadelphia, barred within 500 feet of schools, parks…
Read full rule →Lower Merion
Some RestrictionsLower Merion Township allows a medical marijuana dispensary only where the zoning use table lists it subject to §…
Read full rule →Millcreek
Some RestrictionsIn Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, a Medical Marijuana Dispensary is a Permitted Use in the C1, C2, C3…
Read full rule →Monroe County
Some RestrictionsOnly state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries may operate in Monroe County; no recreational sales exist. The…
Read full rule →Pittsburgh
Some RestrictionsPittsburgh's zoning code lets medical marijuana dispensaries locate by right in most commercial, mixed-use, and…
Read full rule →Scranton
Some RestrictionsScranton's zoning code channels state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and growers into its commercial and…
Read full rule →Upper Darby
Some RestrictionsUpper Darby zones medical marijuana dispensaries and grower/processor facilities as permitted, by-right uses in the C-4…
Read full rule →Buffer Zones
Required minimum distances between cannabis retailers and sensitive uses (schools, parks, day-cares), and between cannabis retailers themselves.
Bristol Township
Significant RestrictionsIn Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, a medical marijuana dispensary or grower/processor cannot be located on a parcel…
Read full rule →Haverford
Significant RestrictionsIn Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a medical marijuana dispensary cannot be located within 1,000…
Read full rule →Philadelphia
Significant RestrictionsMedical marijuana dispensaries in Philadelphia must sit at least 500 feet from schools, parks, playgrounds, pools…
Read full rule →Pittsburgh
Significant RestrictionsPittsburgh zoning bars 'Retail: Tobacco, Inhalant, and Cannabinoids' shops - vape, CBD, and Delta-8/Delta-10/HHC…
Read full rule →Bensalem
Some RestrictionsBensalem Township's zoning ordinance keeps medical marijuana dispensaries at least 1,000 feet from any school, daycare…
Read full rule →Lower Merion
Some RestrictionsA medical marijuana dispensary in Lower Merion Township must meet the separation requirements set out in Pennsylvania's…
Read full rule →Upper Darby
Some RestrictionsUpper Darby's zoning code keeps medical marijuana dispensaries and grower/processor facilities 1,000 feet from every…
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Social Equity Licensing
Programs that prioritize cannabis licensing for residents harmed by the war on drugs, including LA's Social Equity Program tiers and qualification rules.
Philadelphia
Some RestrictionsPennsylvania Act 16 of 2016 governs cannabis licensing for medical use only; recreational sales remain illegal. The…
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