Cannabis
in Maryland Dispensaries, Deals & Laws

Adults 21 and over may possess a personal use amount of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or cannabis products containing no more than 750 milligrams of THC, under the adult-use law that took effect on July 1, 2023. Possessing between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces is a civil offense carrying a fine of up to $250, while more than 2.5 ounces can bring a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Police may not stop or search a vehicle based solely on the smell of cannabis or on seeing a personal use amount. Registered medical patients have separate limits based on a 30-day supply, commonly cited as 120 grams of flower or 36 grams of extract.

The minimum age for adult-use cannabis in Maryland is 21. People under 21 may not possess or use non-medical cannabis; those found with 2.5 ounces or less face fines, drug education, and referral for a substance use assessment rather than criminal charges, while larger amounts can bring criminal penalties. Medical patients may register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration from age 18. Patients under 18 can take part if a parent or legal guardian registers as their caregiver, and caregivers for minors must be at least 21. Dispensaries check identification, and for medical sales they verify the patient's registration against the Administration's database before completing the purchase.

Adults 21 and over may grow up to two cannabis plants per household for personal use, and the plants must be kept out of public view. Registered medical patients may grow up to four plants per household. Landlords can prohibit cultivation on rental property, so tenants should check their lease before starting. Homegrown cannabis may not be sold, since any sale without a license is prohibited. Some patient-education sources still state that medical patients cannot grow at home at all; that conflicts with current official guidance from Baltimore City, which confirms the four-plant allowance for patients. The limits apply per household, not per adult, so several adults sharing a home do not multiply the count.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration regulates both the adult-use and medical markets. It handles business licensing, patient and caregiver registration, inspection, and testing, and runs the registry that dispensaries check before completing medical sales. Older sources name the Natalie M. LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission as the medical program's regulator; current state registration pages direct patients to the Maryland Cannabis Administration instead, through the OneStop portal. Tax collection sits with a separate agency: the Office of the Comptroller administers the sales and use tax on adult-use cannabis. The Cannabis Reform Act, House Bill 556 and Senate Bill 516, also created an Office of Social Equity connected to licensing for applicants from disproportionately affected communities.

The Office of the Comptroller administers a 9 percent sales and use tax on retail sales of adult-use cannabis and cannabis products, which has applied since retail sales began on July 1, 2023. One commercial source reports a 12 percent rate, so buyers should confirm the current figure with the Comptroller before relying on either number. Registered medical patients are exempt from the adult-use tax. According to Baltimore City's guidance, the revenue funds the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund, the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, counties and municipalities, public health initiatives, and business assistance programs. The sources in our research do not describe any separate local cannabis tax layered on top of the state rate.

According to industry summaries of Maryland's licensing framework, the law provides for up to 50 on-site consumption licenses. These venues may allow smoking, vaping, or other consumption outdoors, such as on a patio, but indoor smoking is not permitted; our research does not confirm how many are open. Otherwise, cannabis may be used only on private property. Smoking is banned in indoor and outdoor spaces open to the public, including parks, streets, sidewalks, and public transportation, as well as in workplaces and in motor vehicles, for drivers and passengers alike. Restaurants and bars, including their outdoor areas, may not allow cannabis use. Landlords can prohibit use on rental property, and cannabis remains illegal on federal property.

Patients register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration through the state's OneStop portal and obtain a written certification from a provider registered with the program, which in Maryland can include physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, and podiatrists. Once both steps are complete, the patient can buy from licensed dispensaries by presenting state-issued ID along with their patient card or number, and dispensaries confirm registration against the Administration's database. Registration itself is free, and a physical patient ID card is optional at $25, waived for those enrolled in Maryland Medicaid or Veterans Affairs. Commercial sources report that many patients finish within two weeks, though some describe waits of 30 to 45 business days for a patient number.

Under the Maryland Cannabis Administration's registration rules, a provider may certify a patient who has cachexia, anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The list also includes a catch-all for any other severe chronic condition for which other treatments have been ineffective, which gives providers broad clinical latitude; some sources describe Maryland as having no fixed list for that reason. Conditions requiring hospice or palliative care are also recognized. Cancer is not named separately, but patients with cancer can qualify through pain, nausea, wasting, treatment side effects, or palliative care.

Applicants must be Maryland residents aged 18 or older with a provider recommendation for a qualifying condition. Registration requires valid U.S. government-issued photo ID, two documents proving Maryland residency dated within the last 90 days, and a recent photograph against a white background taken within the past six months. A Social Security number and an active email address are also needed to register online. Non-residents may register only if they are physically in Maryland, admitted to an accredited medical facility, and receiving cannabis there as inpatients. Patients under 18 need a parent or legal guardian registered as caregiver, a registration that costs $25 and requires at least one notarized form.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration states that patient registration lasts six years, and existing registered patients should not submit a new application to renew it. What recurs more often is the provider's certification. Commercial sources agree it must be renewed with a registered provider but disagree on how often, citing annual, three-year, and four-year cycles. The official registration pages in our research do not state the certification interval, so patients should check the expiry date of their certification in the OneStop portal. Clinic sources report that renewal can begin 60 days before expiration and can be handled through a telemedicine visit, with renewal fees generally lower than initial visits.

Clinic sources describe telehealth certification visits as permitted in Maryland and report that they have become the most common route for new patients, with evaluations conducted over video and typically lasting 10 to 15 minutes. Initial visits are advertised at roughly $99 to $200, and renewals can also be done remotely. The provider must still be registered with the program and, according to patient-education sources, must have a bona fide provider-patient relationship that includes reviewing medical history and records. The official state registration pages in our research do not address telehealth directly, so we cannot cite the specific regulation. Telehealth covers only certification; state registration is separate and handled through OneStop.

Maryland does not open its medical program to visiting patients with cards from other states. The Maryland Cannabis Administration limits non-resident registration to people who are physically in Maryland and admitted as inpatients to an accredited medical facility that dispenses cannabis during their stay. Other visitors aged 21 and over can buy at adult-use dispensaries with valid ID, subject to the 1.5-ounce flower limit and the adult-use sales tax. Medical-only benefits, such as the tax exemption, higher patient purchase limits, and delivery, which commercial sources say is limited to registered patients, are therefore not available to out-of-state cardholders. The sources do not describe any agreement recognizing Maryland cards elsewhere.