Medical Cannabis FAQs

A Maryland patient can only obtain legal medical cannabis from a Maryland-licensed dispensary. Find a licensed dispensary.

There is no fee to become a registered patient with the Maryland Cannabis Administration.

Patients have the option to print a paper copy of their medical cannabis ID card at no charge.

Adult MCA medical patient identification (ID) cards can be ordered after the application is approved for a fee of $25. 

Identification cards for minors, patients enrolled in the Maryland Medicaid/Medical Assistance Program, and the VA Health Care program/Veterans Affairs, Maryland Health Care System will be produced free of charge. 

Patient registration with MCA is valid for six (6) years. 

There are no reduced fees for seniors, however patient registration is free for adults. An optional ID card can be purchased for $25.

Patients can order an ID card after their application is approved by logging into their Maryland OneStop account. Learn more about getting or replacing an ID card.

A patient should notify the MCA within three (3) calendar days of address change by submitting a Patient/Caregiver Change of Address Form.

A patient or caregiver can notify the MCA to cancel/deactivate their registration at any time by submitting a Patient/Caregiver Registration Inactivation Request Form.

A patient may obtain medical cannabis from any licensed dispensary​ in Maryland. 

The patient's certification will be recorded in the MCA's database and can be confirmed by any licensed dispensary. 

An MCA-issued ID card is not needed to purchase medical cannabis, however, government-issued identification is still required.

The certification issued by a healthcare provider for a patient identifies the amount of dried flower and THC that the patient may purchase in a 30-day period. 

The limit is calculated as a ROLLING 30-day limit, not by calendar month. Learn about medical cannabis purchase limits and availability

That is a medical question that the MCA cannot answer. Please discuss this topic with your provider.

Not at this time.

Children who meet their provider's criteria for treatment can become legal patients in Maryland. However, children under the age of 18 are required to have a parent or legal guardian serve as a caregiver. Learn more about minor patient registration.

The minor patient registration will automatically expire on their 18th birthday. If the individual wishes to remain a medical cannabis patient at that time, they are required to complete an adult patient registration application. 

Yes.

Yes. After a patient's application is approved, the patient is issued a 16 character Patient ID number. This number should be given to the certifying provider.

Yes.

A patient needs an in-person visit with a registered provider with whom the patient has a “bona fide provider-patient relationship.”

If the patient meets the provider's criteria for treatment with medical cannabis, the provider will issue a certification for up to one calendar year.

Maryland law defines this term as a treatment or counseling relationship between a provider and patient in which the provider:

• Reviews the patient's relevant medical records
• Completes an in-person assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition
• Creates and maintains medically standardized records
• Expects to monitor patient program and takes any medically indicated action to follow up

After the provider has examined the patient and the patient's records, the provider may issue the patient a written certification immediately. Patient allotment should be verified in the patient’s Onestop account, then the patient may go to any licensed dispensary to purchase medical cannabis.

Caregivers must be 21 years old or older.

​A patient may designate up to two caregivers, but only one caregiver can be linked to the patient account at a time.

Yes, once registered with MCA a caregiver may login to their onestop account, order an ID card and pay the $25 fee. A caregiver must have an ID card to be able to purchase on behalf of a patient.

​A legal patient may travel to any location in the state of Maryland (other than federal government property when in possession of medical cannabis). 

Possession of cannabis is a violation of federal law and Maryland residents should carefully read the current state statutes regarding the use of medical cannabis and be aware that taking cannabis across State lines is a federal offense. 

Cannabis is also illegal on federal government property. 

The State of Maryland laws cannot authorize you to travel to other states, jurisdictions or countries with this medicine in your possession.

No. Federal law bars medical cannabis patients from purchasing or possessing firearms. The Federal Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), prohibits any person who is an ‘unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)’ from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition. Marijuana is listed in the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I controlled substance, and there are no exceptions in Federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by State law.

Medical cannabis patient information contained in Maryland’s patient registry is considered confidential, protected health information and held in compliance with federal HIPAA regulations by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. However, the Maryland State Police query individuals who seek to purchase a gun about their status as a medical cannabis patient and bar those who disclose that they are medical cannabis patients from making the transaction. Individuals who provide false information by failing to disclose that they are a medical cannabis patient when purchasing a firearm are in violation of federal statute, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000.​ 

Patients do not have to disclose that they possess medical cannabis and do not have to consent to a search. However, if a search is conducted and medical cannabis is found, the patient may alert law enforcement to their patient status, which can be accessed in a linked database.

Possession and use of medical cannabis is a violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act, and compliance with Maryland State medical cannabis laws is not a legal defense to a violation of federal law. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has the authority to enforce federal cannabis laws, even in states with authorized medical cannabis programs. However, federal budget legislation passed in 2014, subject to reauthorization each year, prohibits the DOJ from interfering with the implementation of State medical cannabis programs. Courts have consistently interpreted this statutory provision to protect “individuals who engaged in conduct permitted by state medical marijuana laws and who fully complied with such laws.” U.S. v. McIntosh, 833 F.3d 1163 (9th Cir. 2016).​

Maryland law does not prevent an employer from testing for use of cannabis (for any reason) or taking action against an employee who tests positive for use of cannabis (for any reason).

Not at this time.