Maryland Marijuana Laws
Information About Medical Marijuana Consumption and Possession
Last updated August 17, 2026
While having a Maryland medical marijuana ID card is an incredible boon for your health and well-being, you should be aware of the great responsibility that your patient status carries with it. As a law-abiding Maryland patient, you take note of the following while you are undergoing your medical cannabis treatment.
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Program Approval Date
April 2014
Patient ID Card Validity
6 Years
Government Fee
Free (Digital Card)
$25 (Physical Card)
Certification Renewal
Annually
What Rules Must Marijuana Patients Follow in Maryland?
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- Your patient status grants you the right to possess a specific quantity of cannabis over a 30-day period. Depending on your treatment requirements, this quantity will likely vary on a case-by-case scenario. However, you have no legal right to possess anything exceeding your explicitly set limit.
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- In Maryland, possession of a controlled substance such as hashish and/or cannabis concentrates falls under the same Schedule I Drug regulations as typical marijuana. Therefore, if your medical treatment includes products that are hashish-based or made from any other type of marijuana concentrate, know that the penalties for unlawful use remain the same.
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- The only authorized locations for your medical marijuana purchases are state-approved dispensaries. Personal sales are highly prohibited by the court of law and you should not engage with them in any way, shape, or form, else you risk being charged with a sentence for possession with intent to distribute.
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- Interaction of any kind with marijuana paraphernalia products is NOT necessary for your medical treatment. You have no legal excuse for being found in possession of such an item, or, even worse, to be using it for your own product manufacturing.
With all of this in mind, below are the three main types of marijuana penalties that Maryland’s marijuana laws can hold you accountable for:
1. Possession
2. Distribution/ Intent to Sell
3. Paraphernalia
Possession
Maryland allows adults 21 and older to possess cannabis within the state’s legal limits. Registered medical cannabis patients may possess the amount authorized by their written certification, subject to their approved medical cannabis allotment.
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- Adults 21 and older may possess up to 1.5 ounces of usable cannabis, up to 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or cannabis products containing up to 750 milligrams of THC.
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- Possession above the personal-use amount but within the civil-use amount is a civil offense. The civil-use amount is more than 1.5 ounces but no more than 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis, more than 12 grams but no more than 20 grams of concentrated cannabis, or more than 750 milligrams but no more than 1,250 milligrams of THC in cannabis products.
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- Registered medical cannabis patients may purchase and possess the amount authorized in their written certification. The standard rolling 30-day allotment is 120 grams of dried flower, 36 grams of THC in processed cannabis products, or an equivalent combination. A certifying provider may authorize a different amount based on the patient’s medical needs.
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- Possession above the applicable legal or authorized amount may result in criminal penalties depending on the amount and circumstances.
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- Using cannabis in a public place is prohibited and may result in a civil fine of up to $250.
Distribution / Intent to Sell
Maryland law prohibits unauthorized distribution or dispensing of cannabis and prohibits possessing cannabis in an amount that reasonably indicates an intent to distribute or dispense it.
Maryland also permits adults 21 and older to share the personal-use amount of cannabis with another adult 21 or older without payment, subject to restrictions on adult sharing.
Sale and Distribution:
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- Possessing cannabis in an amount that reasonably indicates an intent to distribute or dispense it is prohibited. Possessing a personal-use or civil-use amount by itself, without other evidence of an intent to distribute, does not constitute this offense.
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- Possession of cannabis with intent to distribute or dispense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
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- Adults age 21 or older may share a personal-use amount of cannabis with another adult age 21 or older without payment. This protection does not apply when the cannabis is given in connection with another transaction involving goods or services.
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- Manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing 50 pounds or more of cannabis is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000, or both.
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- A cannabis drug-kingpin offense involving 50 pounds or more of cannabis is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.
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- Unlawful distribution, dispensing, manufacturing, or possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance in a school vehicle or on, in, or within 1,000 feet of qualifying school property is subject to enhanced penalties under Maryland law.
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- Using a minor to manufacture, deliver, or distribute a controlled dangerous substance is subject to separate criminal penalties under Maryland law.
Trafficking:
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- If a person enters the State with more than 5 kg of marijuana but less than 45 kilograms, then that person will be charged guilty of a felony and is subject to not more than 10 years of imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $10,000.00
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- If a person enters the State of Maryland with not less than 45 kg of marijuana, then they will be charged guilty of a felony and are subject to not more than 25 years of imprisonment and a fine not more than $50,000.00
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- Suppose a person possesses any firearm while being arrested for trafficking marijuana into the State. In that case, authorities may charge that person guilty of a felony and may spend 5 to 20 years in jail and 10- 20 years for succeeding violations.
Paraphernalia
Maryland law prohibits certain activities involving drug paraphernalia when the paraphernalia is intended for unlawful controlled-substance activity.
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- Using or possessing drug paraphernalia with intent to use it for prohibited controlled-substance activity is a misdemeanor. A first violation carries a fine of up to $500. Subsequent violations may result in up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
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- Selling or delivering drug paraphernalia, or possessing it with intent to sell or deliver it for unlawful use, is a misdemeanor. A first violation carries a fine of up to $500. Subsequent violations may result in up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
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- Delivering drug paraphernalia to a minor who is at least 3 years younger than the person delivering it is a separate misdemeanor punishable by up to 8 years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.
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- Advertising drug paraphernalia for sale or delivery is a misdemeanor. A first violation carries a fine of up to $500. A subsequent violation may result in up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Renewal Available!
Questions about the Maryland Marijuana Laws
While the penalties for each medical marijuana law are highly important to take note of, we know that state regulations do not always cover the niche cases.
Below you can find a list of potential FAQs that you might have regarding the current state of medical marijuana in Maryland:
Is weed legal in Maryland?
Yes, weed is legal in Maryland for both medical and recreational use.
Medical use: Marijuana is legal in Maryland for the medical purposes of patients and caregivers registered with the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA).
Recreational use: Maryland legalized recreational weed for adults 21 and older on July 1, 2023. Adults 21 and older may possess and use up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or cannabis products containing up to 750 milligrams of THC.
Can I use a Marijuana Medical Card from another state?
No. Maryland does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards. However, adults 21 and older can purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries through the adult-use market, subject to state possession limits.
Is marijuana decriminalized in Maryland?
- Possession within the civil-use amount
- Simple possession or use of drug paraphernalia
- Public consumption
These offenses may result in civil penalties rather than criminal penalties.
If you have a medical card, where can you smoke?
Patients with a valid Maryland med card may only use medical marijuana on private property. Smoking marijuana in public is illegal and can result in a fine of up to $50 for a first offense and up to $150 for subsequent offenses.
Is CBD legal in Maryland?
Yes. Hemp-derived CBD is legal in Maryland. You can buy CBD products from retailers, including health stores, vape shops, and online vendors, without a prescription, as long as the products comply with applicable state and federal requirements.
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