{"id":373864,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-marijuana-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-09-05T13:10:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T18:10:50","slug":"maryland-marijuana-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maryland-law\/maryland-marijuana-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Marijuana Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maryland Marijuana Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Voters made Maryland the 20th state to legalize recreational marijuana by voting yes on Question 4 in 2022. The state’s medical marijuana program has been in place for several years.<\/p>\r\n

The Cannabis Control Act of 1978 first provided legalization of marijuana for medical use, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the medical program got up and running. When discussing marijuana laws, understand that states also refer to it as cannabis<\/a> because marijuana comes from the cannabis plant.<\/p>\r\n

The State of Maryland continues to make advances with its marijuana regulation. In March 2024, the Maryland Cannabis Administration<\/a> announced the 174 applicants selected in the social equity licensing round<\/a> of the lottery for new cannabis business opportunities. The winners will get licenses to become growers, processors, and dispensary owners.<\/p>\r\n

While cannabis is legal in Maryland, there are still laws that apply. Marijuana penalties can be severe, so we’ll examine what you need to know to stay on the right side of law enforcement. We’ll discuss the legal limits of cannabis in Maryland, the differences between medical marijuana patients<\/a> and adult-use cannabis, and where to get marijuana products.<\/p>\r\n

What To Know About Maryland Cannabis Laws<\/h2>\r\n

The House and Senate of Maryland’s General Assembly may have paved the way for legal cannabis with HB 556<\/a> and SB 516<\/a>, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. The Maryland Cannabis Administration<\/a> (MCA), formerly known as the Natalie LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, regulates the cultivation, manufacture, testing, and distribution of medical and adult-use cannabis in Maryland.<\/p>\r\n

Use of any marijuana product in public is illegal, so partake on private property. Landlords have the right to prohibit smoking any amount of cannabis in their buildings. Check your lease. Recreational marijuana users can have up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana products legally and face only a fine for carrying up to 2.5 ounces.<\/p>\r\n

Dispensaries can allow onsite use of marijuana by choice, but they’re also subject to local laws in their jurisdiction. There’s a 9% tax on all cannabis products, which is the same tax rate used for alcohol purchases. You can buy some products in places other than licensed dispensaries, but only up to 0.5 mg of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)<\/a> per serving and 2.5 mg per package.<\/p>\r\n

It’s also important to remember that while cannabis is legal in Maryland, it still carries a Schedule I classification<\/a> on federal land. Using or carrying marijuana in a national park or on a military base violates the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)<\/a> for cannabis possession. While changes may be coming at the federal level<\/a>, as of August 2024, the law remains in effect.<\/p>\r\n

Now that you have an idea about marijuana use basics in Maryland let’s look at the two different types: medical marijuana and recreational cannabis.<\/p>\r\n

Medical Marijuana in Maryland<\/h3>\r\n

Maryland lawmakers launched a medical cannabis program in 2013, allowing the medical use of cannabis<\/a> by qualifying patients. To be eligible for medical cannabis in Maryland, a patient must do the following<\/a>:<\/p>\r\n