Adult Use Cannabis was legalized in Maryland on July 1, 2023 for individuals 21 or older. As of April 2023, 21 states and the District of Columbia allow adult use cannabis.
Medical Cannabis was legalized in Maryland in 2013, and as of April 2023, medical cannabis is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Maryland's Medical Cannabis Program will continue under adult use cannabis.
Adult consumers may purchase flower, vapes, tinctures, edibles, tablets, capsules and topical products. High Potency cannabis products may not be sold to adult consumers. Products that exceed 10 mg THC per serving or 100 mg THC per package may only be sold to a qualifying patient or caregiver.
Cannabis Concentrates, including kief, hashish, bubble, hash, oil, wax, shatter, resin, infused joints or pre-rolls are restricted to qualifying patients and may not be sold to adult consumers.
The legalization of adult use cannabis for individuals 21 or older began on July 1, 2023. Individuals must present a government-issued ID to purchase cannabis or cannabis products from a licensed dispensary.
Find list of those licensed dispensaries here.
Individuals can possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, up to 12 grams of concentrated cannabis; or a total amount of cannabis products that does not exceed 750 mg of THC.
No, not directly. Individuals 18 or older can continue to register for the medical cannabis program and buy medical cannabis products from licensed dispensaries. The law passed by the Maryland General Assembly mandates several accommodations, like patient-only operating hours and confirmed product availability, to ensure registered patients can access necessary medication. Additionally, medical patients do not pay the sales tax for cannabis medication.
Interested parties will need to apply for licensure with the Maryland Cannabis Administration. The first round of applicants must qualify as social equity applicants to be considered. The qualifications for social equity applicants can be found here.
An applicant with at least 65% ownership and control held by one or more individuals who meets one or more of the below qualifications:
The application must include a detailed operational plan, a business plan and a detailed diversity plan. MCA approved templates can be found below.
There is an application fee of $5,000 for a standard license and $1,000 for a micro license. Prospective applicants must verify themselves as social equity applicants between September 8 - November 7. Learn more here.
The application period for the first round of adult-use cannabis business licenses will be open from November 13 - December 12. Applicants will be submitted via the Maryland OneStop portal.
Learn more about key dates of interest, social equity verification, and number of licenses available here.
The MCA will review applications based on the minimum requirements established on their Evaluation Worksheet.
Medical cannabis is an effective treatment for many conditions as prescribed by your doctor or medical provider. In order to qualify, you need to obtain a written certification from a provider registered with the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), register as a patient with MCA, purchase your MCA ID card and then visit a licensed Maryland dispensary.
Medical cannabis patients have access to a wide variety of cannabis products made specifically for medical needs. Additionally, medical patients do not pay the sales tax for cannabis medication.
To participate in the Maryland medical cannabis program, you must be diagnosed with one of the following conditions: cachexia, anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or another chronic medical condition which is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective.
Any Maryland resident who is over 18 and has a provider who recommends medical cannabis as a treatment for a qualifying medical condition is eligible to obtain cannabis once registered.
You will need an electronic copy of U.S. government-issued ID (front and back), proof of having a Maryland address, and an electronic copy of a clear photograph taken within the last six (6) months.
Registrants must be at least 18 years of age. If under 18, the consent of a caregiver or legal guardian is mandatory.
Patients pay $25 at time of registration.
After the provider has examined the patient and the patient’s records, the provider may issue the patient a certification immediately.
A Maryland patient can only obtain legal medical cannabis from a Maryland-licensed dispensary. Once you’ve received your patient registration card, click here to find a dispensary.
There is no legal requirement to inform your workplace you are a medical cannabis patient. However, Maryland law does not prevent an employer from testing for use of cannabis (for any reason) or taking action against an employee who tests positive for use of cannabis (for any reason).
Decisions made between you and your doctor are private and confidential.
You may obtain a prescription for medical cannabis from a registered cannabis provider. Providers can be found here.
Generally, no.
Non-Maryland residents qualify for registration if the individual is physically in the state and admitted to a Joint Commission accredited medical facility, or will be dispensed medical cannabis at the medical facility during an inpatient stay.
Cannabis contains active chemicals called cannabinoids that cause drug-like effects throughout the body, including the central nervous system and the immune system. Cannabis can be effective in treating medical conditions and managing pain. It may be helpful in treating certain forms of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and loss of appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS. In addition, some evidence suggests benefits of cannabis for those with chronic pain and multiple sclerosis.
Because cannabinoids affect physical and mental processes, and may not produce the adverse effects of prescription drugs, some people have found success in reducing dependency and addiction to prescription medications with the use of cannabis.
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