Get a Maryland Medical Marijuana Card

How do I get a Maryland Patient Number?

Before you see a physician in Maryland, you need to obtain a patient number from the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Have the following documents ready:

• US-issued government ID – such as a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID.
• Proof of address, all documents must be dated within the past 90 days. Select one from the list below:
  • MVA registration card or title
  • 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, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.)
  • Residential rental contract (lease or rental contract between landlord and tenant which ​includes all signatures).
  • Selective Service Card
  • Federal, state or local government mail issued by the state of Maryland (ie. Social Security, social services)
  • Car insurance policy
  • All documents must be dated within the past 90 days.
• An electronic, hi-res copy of a clear, recent photo of yourself

Once you’re ready, follow these steps

1. Go to www.onestop.md.gov.
2. Search for the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Here you will find 7 different applications that you can register for.
3. Click on “Adult Patient Registration“. Every patient needs to register here and receive a patient number before seeing a certified provider.
4. Click Apply Now to begin the process.
5. Complete the form as required and pay the $25 registration fee.
6. Wait for the approval – this can take 2-3 weeks.
7. Once you receive approval via email from the MCA, you’re ready to see a Leafwell physician.

Next steps after approval

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification. Here’s a guide to what you need to do next.

Getting Your Maryland Medical Marijuana Card

1. Once you have been approved by Leafwell physician and provided them with your Maryland patient number, our physician will submit your medical marijuana certification – you do not need to do anything – our physician will provide all supporting documentation on your behalf to the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA).
2. MCA will review your application and the certification provided by Leafwell. They will email you once you have been approved.
3. Log back into your existing state account at https://onestop.md.gov/users/sign_in.
4. Within this account, you can print your temporary MCA patient ID card. If you would like a physical card, you can order one to be mailed to you.
5. You can purchase medical cannabis from a licensed Maryland dispensary using your temporary card with ID until the physical card arrives.

Notes:

• When purchasing medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary you will be required to present either your permanent or temporary MCA ID card. The dispensary agent will verify your certification in the Administration’s database before conducting any transaction.
• You may only purchase and obtain a maximum of a thirty-day supply of medical cannabis at one time.

Important note: A certification that is not used to purchase medical cannabis, at a licensed dispensary in the state of Maryland, within 120 days of issuance becomes null and void.

How to renew your medical card

The process for renewing medical marijuana cards in Maryland is similar to registering for the first time.

1. Sign in to Leafwell or register as a renewal patient if you’re new to Leafwell.
2. Speak to a Maryland-licensed healthcare provider online
3. Get approved, and the Leafwell provider will update the state system with your renewal certificate.
   1. If your state card is still valid, nothing further is required.
   2. If your state card is expiring or expired, you must complete the renewal application process online.
      1. Log into your existing MCA account and open a Renewal Form. Instructions can be found here.
      2. Follow the prompts and pay the state’s $25 fee.
      3. Receive a 90-day temporary card via email that can be used to purchase medicine. You can also order a physical card from the state that will be mailed to you.

Check out our Maryland renewal page to begin the renewal process today.

Next steps after renewal

Congratulations on your Maryland medical certification renewal. Although written certifications must be renewed annually, patient registrations with the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) are renewed every six years.

Renewing Your MCA Registration

The MCA has advised that a new application should not be submitted to renew registration.

1. ​Navigate to Maryland OneStop and select “Login.”
2. Once you’re logged in, select “My Dashboard”.
3. Click on your MMCC registration ID number up for renewal under “My Licenses, Permits, and Registrations.”
4. From the License Information page, click on the green “Actions” button on the right-hand side of the Registration header.
5. Select “Renewal Form” from the drop-down menu.
6. Upon launching the Renewal form, you will see your personal information and address pre-populated from the data you submitted with your initial application.
7. After receiving a notification that your application has been approved, log in to your Maryland OneStop account, order your MCA ID card, and pay the $25 fee.

Legal limitations for MD cardholders

Here is an overview of the medical marijuana laws in Maryland:

• 2014 – House Bill 881 (HB 881) is approved by Governor Martin O’Malley. This tasked the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission with developing regulations for patients and dispensaries, including licensing, fees and possession limits.
• 2016 – The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission is allowed to issue the number of dispensary licenses available.
• 2017 – Doctors and nurses may make a medical marijuana certificate as long as they are licensed by the Maryland Board of Nursing, Maryland Board of Physicians, the Podiatrist Medical Examiners or the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners. Registry is mandatory for providers in order to start issuing medical marijuana cards.
• 2020 – Caregiver program is established.

How to become a caregiver

Medical marijuana patients in Maryland can have a caregiver. Caregivers will complete their own application and designate the patient under their care.

Caregiver Requirements:

• Be at least 21 years of age at the time of registration.
• Be a parent or legal guardian of the patient if they are a minor.
  • If you are a parent or legal guardian of a minor, you must complete your caregiver registration before registering the minor patient.

• Register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
• Receive approval from the MCA.
• Purchase an ID card from the MCA for a fee of $25.

To apply as a caregiver for an adult patient, follow this process:

1. Complete and submit an online application.
   1. Visit the Maryland Registry (​​​OneStop Portal) and click Create Account under the Caregivers heading.
2. Verify your email address.
   1. As soon as you have completed and submitted an online application form, a verification email will be sent to the email address you provided on your application. You must click the verification link in the email message to verify your email account. Without performing this step, your application is not complete and will not be reviewed by the MCA.
   2. ​Completed applications will be reviewed by MCA and you will receive a follow up email advising whether or not your application has been approved. Please retain the approval email for your records. It contains your Username, which you will need to log in to the Caregiver registry (OneStop Portal), as well as your MCA Caregiver ID Number.
3. Designate a registered patient.
   1. Once your application has been approved, either the patient can designate you as a caregiver in the Patient registry (OneStop Portal) or you can designate the patient using their patient ID number. For detailed instructions on how to designate a patient, please see the Designating an Adult Patient section on the Caregivers page​​.
4. Purchase an ID card.
   1. Once you have registered and received MCA approval, designated (or have been designated a Caregiver by) a registered Patient, and at least one of your designated Patients has received a valid certification from a physician registered with MCA, you are ready to purchase an ID card.
   2. ID cards are required, which means you must have one before you can purchase medical cannabis from a licensed Maryland dispensary for any of your designated patients.  You can log into your Caregiver registry (OneStop Portal) account to purchase an ID card for a fee of $25; the fee for replacement cards is $5​0.
5. Once you have been approved and received a valid ID card, you are ready to visit a licensed Maryland dispensary to procure medical cannabis for your designated patient. You will need to bring your Caregiver ID Card, valid photo ID, and your patient’s Patient ID number.

State Resources:

• Caregiver Registration Instructions (Adult Patients)
• Caregiver Registration Instructions (Minor Patients)

Can you use a Maryland medical card in other states?

If you are a resident of Maryland and are traveling out of the state, here is a list of states and territories that have reciprocity:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application process with the state program.

Minor medical cannabis patient information

Minors can get a medical marijuana card in Maryland. An individual under 18  must always have at least one caregiver. Only a custodial parent or legal guardian may serve as a minor patient’s caregiver, according to the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA).

Medical records are required for minor medical cannabis patients in Maryland.