Medical Cannabis Program Guidance

Highlighted updates

Recent updates to regulations make certain changes for medical cannabis stakeholders, with an anticipated effective date of April 14, 2025, including but not limited to the following: 

• MCA may request information from dispensaries regarding the utilization of clinical directors.
• MCA is repealing the new condition approval process regulation. This change has no operational impact on any current or prospective medical cannabis patients. Any condition not listed on the certifying provider form or written certification form can be categorized as “other” in accordance with COMAR 14.17.04.01A(2)(b)(viii). 

Patient registration & identification 

Effective July 1, 2024, patient registration is free and identification cards are optional. Once their registration is approved, a qualifying patient will receive an electronic patient identification document via email. Any qualifying patient who wishes to receive a plastic identification card as well may purchase one for $25 at any time through their OneStop account. MCA will waive the identification card fee for individuals who verify their enrollment in Maryland Medicaid or the Veterans Administration Maryland Health Care System. All minor and hospice patients will continue to receive their patient identification cards automatically, for free. 

What does this mean for patient ID checks at the point of sale? 

At a dispensary, a patient who wishes to purchase medical cannabis must present a valid government-issued photo identification and either their medical patient ID card or ID number.  

Patient accommodations

To ensure patients and caregivers continue to have access to their medicine, dispensaries are required to comply with the requirements in this section. 

• Service accommodations: Reserve patient hours for medical-only dispensing or designated lanes for medical sales. If a dispensary chooses to provide a dedicated service line for patients and caregivers, they must make a good faith effort to prioritize patients and caregivers waiting in line over adult-use consumers. 
• Product reservations: Dispensaries must reserve certain products for medical patients, including: 
  • Concentrated cannabis products with a total product weight of greater than 1 gram (except for infused pre-rolls); 
  • Other cannabis products including edibles, capsules, and tinctures with greater than 10 mg of THC per serving or 100 mg of THC per package.
    • Note: Patients are still able to purchase any product available at the dispensary, regardless of type or potency, tax-free. 

Personal use amount 

A qualifying patient may possess up to the amount of cannabis or cannabis-infused products that is authorized in their written certification, even if it exceeds the personal use amount established under Criminal Law Article, § 5-101(u). (Md. Code Ann., Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 36-302(g)) 

Certifying providers 

In accordance with Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Article, §36-301(f), Annotated Code of Maryland, which prohibits a certifying provider from receiving compensation from a licensee, no compensation to certifying providers, of any kind, is permitted. 

Compassionate use fund – Coming soon! 

The purpose of the Compassionate Use Fund is to reduce the cost of obtaining a medical assessment to determine the appropriateness of treatment with cannabis for individuals enrolled in Maryland Medicaid or in the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System. Certifying providers may offer a $50 discount off the provider’s standard fee to provide a medical assessment. The MCA will reimburse certifying providers who participate in this program.  The MCA is finalizing guidelines for this program and will issue further guidance when it is available. 

Questions? 

For patient or caregiver inquiries, including registration or ID card concerns, please contact [email protected]. To submit policy questions related to cannabis regulations, legislation, issued guidance, or licensing, please use the MCA Policy Question Intake form. MCA will review submissions and publish an updated FAQ document on the Laws and Regulations page.