The land of the free and home of the brave – Maryland, the birthplace of the national anthem, is reaffirming that access to medical marijuana is a human right. Used to treat a plethora of physical and mental medical conditions, weed in Maryland is helping over 150,000 patients and counting.
Since when does Maryland have medical marijuana? Is it any good? Elevate Holistics is here to fully dive into Maryland medical pot. We’ll go over MD weed products and where to find them, possible changes in the state’s cannabis laws, and teach you how to get your very own MMJ card.
Is Marijuana Legal in Maryland for Medical Use?
Is marijuana legal in Maryland for medical use yet? Yes! And clearly, residents have a burning passion for it. Maryland’s medical cannabis industry hit $600 million in revenue and plans to continue growing after recently reaching a plateau.
The state has 152,000 registered patients, but data reveals that more individuals are reaping the benefits of medical cannabis through the “gray market” – patients buying legal cannabis on behalf of friends and family. (No need to create a middle man, getting your own medical weed is easy-peasy.)
Currently, having a medical marijuana card is the only way to legally consume marijuana in Maryland.
Since When Does Maryland Have Medical Marijuana?
So is marijuana legal in Maryland for medical use? In 2013, Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Natalie M. LaParade Medical Marijuana Commission Legislation which legalized medical marijuana with restrictions.
Then in 2014, Gov. O’Malley signed twin bills HB 881 and SB 923 that broadened medical marijuana access to include more qualifying conditions. Years later, Maryland’s medical cannabis program began dispensary sales in December 2017.
And now, Maryland’s cannabis laws could be seeing more changes soon.
MD Recreational Weed Update 2022
It is up to Maryland voters this year when it comes to legalizing recreational marijuana in the state.
On the November 2022 ballot, voters will be asked, “Do you favor the legalization of adult-use cannabis in the State of Maryland?” This would allow adults 21 years of age and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis.
The bill plans to address criminal justice and public health issues, build a foundation for social equity in the cannabis industry, automatically expunge certain cannabis convictions, and resentence those currently incarcerated due to those convictions. Because it’s a constitutional amendment, it does not require the approval of the governor.
According to the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition, 61% of MD residents support cannabis legalization. But time will tell whether or not Maryland voters will pass this law, which would go into effect on July 1, 2023, or after.
In the meantime, there are plenty of products available for medical use – and you’re likely eligible to purchase them with an MMJ card.
Current Maryland Marijuana Laws
Possession of fewer than 10 grams of cannabis is decriminalized in Maryland but could be penalized as a civil infraction with a fine not exceeding $100 for first-time offenders.
Possessing between 10 grams and 50 pounds of cannabis could result in a misdemeanor with a punishment of up to one-year imprisonment and a fine not exceeding $1,000. Possessing over 50 pounds of cannabis could result in a felony with a minimum of 5 years imprisonment and a fine not exceeding $100,000.
Public consumption of marijuana carries a civil fine of up to $500.
LEARN MORE: Medical Cannabis and Gun Laws in Maryland | How Medical Cannabis is Doing in Maryland
Maryland Cannabis Products
So what types of cannabis products does the state have to offer? How good is Maryland medical pot? Maryland offers a variety of medical marijuana products, including:
- Flower: Good ol’ classic weed that is ready to be heated and inhaled. Flower can also come in the form of pre-rolls (joints).
- Concentrates: Concentrates are made up of extracted cannabis plant parts like THC, CBD, and other cannabinoid and terpene compounds. Concentrates also come in the form of vaporizers.
- Edibles*: Marijuana edibles are food, drink, or capsules made with cannabis compounds. The effects of edibles aren’t immediate and will take some time to kick in. (Follow our dosing guide here.
- Tinctures: Cannabis tinctures are drops that are consumed orally. Patients can often find higher levels of other cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBN in tinctures.
- Topicals: Cannabis topicals are applied directly to the skin to target areas of pain and inflammation. Typical topicals do not get patients high, but transdermal topicals have the potential to produce psychoactive effects.
*Prior to April 2021, the sale of edibles was prohibited in Maryland. Now, any “medical Cannabis product intended for human consumption by oral ingestion” is recognized and patients have more consumption options. All edibles offered in dispensaries are approved and overseen by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
Maryland Medical Pot Prices
Previously, Maryland medical marijuana was scarce. All cannabis products sold in MD must be produced in MD, and growers weren’t initially plentiful. Now, to meet patient demand, growers are expanding all around the state.
There is a new emphasis on high quality and lower prices for Maryland medical pot, and that has brought Maryland’s medical weed prices to an average cost. In the state, eighths of flower run between $35 to $60, quarters run between $60 and $80, and half ounces are about $100. A gram of concentrates costs between $40 and $80.
Maryland Cannabis Accessibility
Does Maryland have medical marijuana available everywhere? Maryland medical pot is accessible all over the state, as dispensaries are located in most areas and continue to develop. Remedy, ZenLeaf, Mission – the list of over 100 MD dispensaries goes on and on.
For your safety (and for the ability to get your choice of cannabis product), we suggest that individuals avoid purchasing weed outside of dispensaries. Since Maryland has not yet legalized recreational weed, a medical marijuana card is essential. But how do you get one?
Is It Easy To Get a Medical Card in Maryland?
In Maryland, getting a medical marijuana card consists of a doctor’s appointment with a cannabis physician and registering with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. How much is a medical marijuanas card in Maryland? A required visit to a health care provider for med card approval can cost up to $250 in MD. On top of the doctor’s fee, Maryland requires a $50 state fee to get your med card. But, you only have to register for a Maryland medical weed card every three years.
Luckily, Elevate Holistics makes it easy and affordable to get your MMJ card. Through us, a medical cannabis certification is $125 ($100 if you have Medicare or are a veteran.) And the entire process is online, making it easy for you to complete it anytime, anywhere. We can even complete your state application for you through our full-service option – you just have to pay the state fee.
Maryland Qualifying Conditions
To be approved for a medical marijuana card in Maryland, patients must be at least 18 years of age and meet at least one qualifying medical condition. These conditions include but are not exclusive to:
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Anorexia
- Severe or chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms
- Glaucoma
- PTSD
- Another chronic medical condition
Patients under 18 years old can be assigned a registered caregiver of at least 21 years old to receive medical marijuana treatment.
The Benefits of Having a Maryland Medical Weed Card
Having a medical marijuana card is the reassurance that you can get the medicine you need virtually anytime you need it. But it gets even better. Why else should you get a Maryland medical weed card? What are the benefits?
- Better quality, safer cannabis products
- Variety of cannabis products ranging from flower and concentrates to drinks and capsules
- The ability to choose the effects and treatment you need from cannabis
- Little to no taxes on medical cannabis products versus taxed recreational cannabis products
- Greater legal protection
- The possibility of medical marijuana card reciprocity in other states, meaning you can purchase medical weed when you travel
- Access to medical-only cannabis dispensaries
- Prioritized over recreational consumers at dispensaries when it comes to supply
- Can be allowed higher possession and purchase limits than recreational weed
We’re Here to Elevate Your Weed Game
Is marijuana legal in Maryland for medical use? Yes! So why not get your Maryland medical weed card? To find greater physical, mental, and spiritual wellness naturally, a Maryland medical marijuana license is a good place to start.
Book an appointment with us to connect virtually with a certified cannabis physician to get MMJ card approval. We will walk you through the process and help you every step of the way to getting legal.
Do you already have your MMJ card but need a med card renewal or allotment increase? Elevate Holistics does that too! And that’s still not all of the services we provide. Because we care, we also offer holistic wellness consultations, first-time consumer consultations, and other services to add-on to your appointment. It’s never been easier to get safe, legal weed.
