How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Maryland in 2023
Article written by
Ruth LemonVP of Operations
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis JasseyMedical Director - Pediatric Medicine
Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley legalized medical cannabis in 2014 after signing House Bill 811 into law, making Maryland the 21st medical marijuana state. In 2017, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) officially began operations, allowing state residents suffering from qualifying medical conditions to apply for a Maryland medical cannabis card and legally purchase medical cannabis.
If you are a Maryland resident and are interested in getting your medical card, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explain everything you need to know about the state’s medical marijuana program, which medical conditions qualify patients for medical card certification, and how to navigate the medical card application process.
Personalized Cannabis Guidance
Benefits of Having a Medical Card in Maryland
Marylanders voted to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2022, but there are distinct advantages for patients who purchase cannabis with a medical card.
Access Your Medicine Now
A legal framework for regulating, taxing, and selling adult-use cannabis has not yet been established. What we do know is that adults 21 and older will not be allowed to purchase recreational cannabis until July 1, 2023. Patients looking for more immediate relief can legally buy medical marijuana in the state now.
Tax Considerations
Medical cannabis patients in all fully legal states and U.S. territories pay lower sales tax on cannabis products than recreational users. Should Maryland follow suit, a medical card could save patients money.
Higher Purchase Limits
Qualifying Maryland medical marijuana patients can purchase the following combined limit of cannabis products on a rolling 30-day basis (although a healthcare provider may certify a patient for more than this amount if deemed necessary):
- Up to 120 grams (over 4 ounces) of dried cannabis flower; or
- Up to 36 grams of THC (concentrates, edibles, and extracts)
When adult-use cannabis becomes legal on or after July 1, 2023, Marylanders 21 and older will only be allowed to purchase the following legally:
- Up to 42.5 grams (1.5 ounces) of dried cannabis flower; or
- Up to 12 grams of THC (concentrates, edibles, and extracts)
Eligibility Requirements
Adults aged 18 and up diagnosed with at least one qualifying medical condition may be eligible to apply for a Maryland MMJ card. First, register with the state and receive a patient number. Then, book a consultation with a state-licensed healthcare provider and get approved. With Leafwell, patients can complete this consultation online via telemedicine.
See below for a complete list of qualifying conditions and step-by-step instructions for the Maryland medical marijuana card application process.
Can Minors Get a Medical Card in Maryland?
Yes. But for an individual under 18 to participate in Maryland’s medical cannabis program, the patient must have at least one caregiver at all times. Only a custodial parent or legal guardian may serve as a minor patient’s caregiver, according to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC).
See “Applying as a Caregiver” below for more information about Maryland’s caregiver application process.
Qualifying Conditions
Maryland maintains a list of qualifying medical conditions for a medical marijuana card. As of December 2022, the qualifying conditions are:
- Anorexia
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Glaucoma
- Seizures
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Severe nausea
- Severe or chronic pain
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
You may also qualify if you have been diagnosed with other severe chronic medical conditions for which other treatments have been ineffective. This inclusion allows anyone with an ongoing health condition to get certified. Just speak with a healthcare provider about your previous treatments, what has and hasn’t worked, and discuss how cannabis could be of benefit.
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How to Apply
- Register online with the state.
Go to the Maryland government website and complete your online registration. Once completed, you will receive a patient number. This usually takes 2-3 weeks, and you cannot get approved by a provider without one.
- Register online with Leafwell and discuss medical marijuana with your healthcare provider.
Book an appointment with a certified state-licensed healthcare provider with Leafwell. The cost of the telemedicine consultation is $125. You will receive a full refund if you do not qualify for an MMJ card.
Speak to our healthcare provider about your qualifying medical conditions and why medical cannabis may be a good option. Feel free to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have.
- Get approved and receive your certification.
If approved, our physician will submit your written certification to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission website using your patient number. You must have your patient number before meeting with the physician.
- Get your Maryland MMCC ID card.
The state will email an e-version of your Maryland MMCC ID card as soon as you’re approved. State approval takes approximately three weeks.
As soon as you receive your MMCC ID card, you can use it at any licensed dispensary in the state to purchase medical cannabis. You can use the e-copy while waiting for your physical ID card to arrive in the mail (usually within a month).
What You’ll Need
To apply for your Maryland medical marijuana card, you’ll need to gather the following (all documents must be dated within the past 90 days):
- A valid, accessible email account
- Social Security number
- An electronic copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof that the applicant lives in Maryland
- An electronic copy of a clear, recent photograph of the applicant
- $25 for the non-refundable state application fee
Acceptable forms of identification:
- Driver’s license
- State-issued photo ID card
- Military ID
- U.S. passport
If your ID is not a Maryland driver’s license, MVA ID card, or does not identify your current Maryland address, you must also provide two of the following documents to prove state residency:
- MVA registration card or title
- MVA change of address card
- Utility, telephone, or cable/satellite TV bill
- Bank account statement
- Property tax bill
- Mortgage statement or proof of home ownership (deed, title, bill of sale)
- Major credit card bill (Visa, MasterCard, Walmart, Target, etc.)
- Residential rental contract (a lease or rental contract between a landlord and tenant that includes all signatures)
- Selective Service card
- Federal, state, or local government mail issued by the state of Maryland (e.g., Social Security, social services)
- Car insurance policy
- Paystubs (dated within 90 days)
- W-2 statements
- State of Maryland health insurance-issued documents (i.e., Medicaid, Medicare, Maryland Health Connection)
Costs
Online consultation with one of Leafwell’s healthcare providers is $125. You will receive a full refund if you do not qualify for an MMJ card.
The state also charges a nonrefundable $25 fee for patient and caregiver applications and renewals. Patient registrations are valid for six years, and caregivers must renew every two years.
The $25 state application fee is waived for patients enrolled in the Maryland Medicaid Program and the VA Health Care Program, according to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC).
Medical Marijuana Reciprocity
Maryland does not currently accept out-of-state medical cannabis cards. However, an out-of-state patient who maintains a residency in Maryland can register for a medical cannabis card.
Click here for a complete list of states and U.S. territories that accept out-of-state medical cards.
Applying as a Caregiver
Caregivers are authorized to purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries on behalf of qualified patients. Patients can designate a maximum of two caregivers at one time, and caregivers may serve up to five registered patients.
To become a medical cannabis caregiver in Maryland, you must be at least 21 or older, registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, and approved by the commission to serve as a caregiver. Caregivers must possess a commission-issued caregiver ID card (valid for two years).
Caregivers serving minor patients must register with the commission before registering the minor patient.
To register as a caregiver and receive your caregiver ID card, you must fill out an application form with the state. The nonrefundable fee for a caregiver application is $25.
Where to Buy Medical Marijuana
To find the closest licensed Maryland dispensary to you, check out the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s database and an interactive map of Maryland dispensaries here.
Cultivation
Home cultivation of cannabis is not legal in the state of Maryland currently. However, when recreational cannabis becomes legal on July 1, 2023, adults 21 years of age and older can legally grow up to two cannabis plants so long as they are out of public view.
Maryland Medical Marijuana Laws to Know
Below, you’ll find a few need-to-know medical marijuana laws enforced in Maryland. Check out our Maryland law page for more in-depth coverage of the state’s laws.
- Recreational cannabis sales remain illegal in Maryland until July 2023, but possession or use of fewer than 10 grams of cannabis has been decriminalized.
- Patients cannot drive or operate other motor vehicles under the influence of cannabis.
- Cannabis cultivation remains illegal in Maryland until July 2023, after which adults 21 and older can legally grow up to two plants out of public view.
Get Your Medical Card
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get a medical marijuana card in Maryland?
Online consultation with one of Leafwell’s healthcare providers is $125. You will receive a full refund if you do not qualify for an MMJ card.
The state also charges a $25 nonrefundable fee when you apply. This fee can be waived for patients enrolled in the Maryland Medicaid and VA Health Care programs.
Does anxiety qualify for medical marijuana in Maryland?
That depends. While anxiety is not included among the list of qualifying conditions for a medical cannabis card in Maryland, it often goes hand-in-hand with — or is confused for — conditions that are, including severe conditions where other medical treatments have been ineffective.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for example, is often grouped in with other anxiety disorders due to its similar symptoms, including nightmares, flashbacks of a traumatic event or events, feelings of isolation, withdrawal, guilt, and irritability.
Is recreational cannabis legal in Maryland?
Nearly two-thirds of Marylanders voted to support legalizing the adult use of cannabis in November 2022. But before recreational cannabis sales can occur, the Maryland General Assembly must establish laws outlining how cannabis products will be regulated, taxed, and sold.
This is expected to happen on July 1, 2023. In the meantime, cannabis products are legal and accessible to medical marijuana patients throughout Maryland dispensaries.
