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Maryland Cannabis Administration

Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in Maryland Begin July 1​

News Release |

(Linthicum, MD) - Beginning July 1, Maryland will become the 21st state to authorize the sale of cannabis and cannabis products to adult consumers 21 years of age or older. Adults with valid, government-issued photo identification will be able to purchase cannabis and cannabis products from approximately 100 licensed Maryland dispensaries across the state - PDF.  

“The Maryland Cannabis Administration, in collaboration with our industry partners, is excited to offer safer, legal, tested cannabis to adults in Maryland beginning on July 1,” said Maryland Cannabis Administration Acting Director Will Tilburg. “We encourage adults to be informed about both the parameters of the new law and about safe and responsible cannabis consumption.” 

During the 2023 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Cannabis Reform Act, which legalized adult-use cannabis effective July 1. On May 3, Governor Wes Moore signed the act into law. The law authorizes certain products to be available for purchase, including: 

  • Dried flower or pre-rolled joints; 
  • Vape cartridges, disposable vape pens, or other vaporizing devices and products; and 
  • Other manufactured products including edibles, capsules, tinctures, and topical products with less than 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg of THC per package. 

A full list of dispensaries licensed to sell to medical patients and adult-users is available on the MCA’s website - PDF.

Smoking cannabis is not permitted in public, including outdoor spaces, or in bars, restaurants, on public transit, and in moving vehicles. Driving under the influence of cannabis is still illegal in Maryland and it is illegal to transport cannabis products purchased in Maryland out of state. 

“The administration has developed public and consumer education materials to encourage informed, responsible, and safe cannabis use and will continue to roll out a campaign in the coming weeks and months,” said Maryland Cannabis Administration Deputy Director Dawn Berkowitz. “All dispensaries have received point-of-sale education materials, especially helpful for new or novice consumers. Posters will be displayed that present an overview of the laws, encourage new consumers to ‘start low and go slow’ when it comes to consumption, and keep cannabis safely stored in a locked container at home.” 

Pocket guides are available free of charge to consumers. The guides contain information about the impairing effects of cannabis, dosage guidelines, and other key information. The materials are available for download from the Maryland Cannabis Administration website. 

Medical cannabis patients and caregivers will continue to be able to access the full spectrum of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products. Medical cannabis products will not be subject to the 9% state sales and use tax and licensed dispensaries will provide patient-only operating hours or priority access lanes for medical patients. 

All products sold in Maryland’s licensed dispensaries will comply with the state’s comprehensive health, safety, and testing requirements to ensure the absence of harmful pesticides, heavy metals or other contaminants that may be present in unregulated products. Revenue from the sales and use tax assessed on all adult-use cannabis products will largely support the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, developed by the legislature to assist communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition. 

The Maryland Cannabis Administration has collected more than $15 million in license conversion fees that will be distributed through the Community Reinvestment and Repair Funds and directly reinvested into disproportionately impacted areas in Maryland counties and Baltimore City beginning this summer. An additional $45 million in license conversion fees will be distributed to the fund over the next 18 months. Annually, 35% of the sales and use tax collected in the state will be distributed to the fund. 

The new law also prioritizes equity in cannabis licensing and community reinvestment. The Maryland Cannabis Administration will hold a licensing round for up to 220 new standard and micro grower, processor, dispensary and incubator licenses in the fall, which will be the first in the nation exclusively for social equity applicants. 

In advance of the licensing round, the Maryland Cannabis Administration is conducting comprehensive outreach - PDF and providing education to individuals who are interested in applying for a cannabis business license. As part of the outreach, the administration will attend community events and host a series of in-person and virtual trainings on the application process, eligibility requirements, and resources available to assist social equity applicants. 

For the latest information, visit the Maryland Cannabis Administration’s website at cannabis.maryland.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.