FAQs - Maryland Medical Marijuana Card

Any adult resident of Maryland who has one of the qualifying conditions and a certificate issued by a licensed medical practitioner in Maryland is eligible. Minors may also be eligible if they have a registered caregiver.

Other qualifying conditions are serious or chronic pain, PTSD, seizure disorders, serious nausea, serious or persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma, cachexia, anorexia, and wasting syndrome. In addition, any other serious and chronic medical condition that is not responding to other therapies can qualify for the card in Maryland.

Although anxiety is not mentioned among the list of specific conditions, it can be considered as one of the components of PTSD or any other serious and chronic medical condition that is not responding to other therapy modalities.

The physical version of the patient ID card has a cost of $25, while the printable electronic version is free of charge. The fees for the doctor’s evaluation are separate and normally between $100-$250. Those patients who have insurance through Maryland Medicaid or the VA Health Care System can get the fee waived.

Yes. The whole process, from physician review using telehealth to registration using the MCA’s Maryland OneStop website, is entirely done online. The MCA does not accept any mail-in or in-person applications. All applications have to be done online.

A valid form of government-issued photo identification (Maryland driver’s license, Maryland state ID, military ID, or a passport), along with proof of Maryland residence (a utility bill, a bank statement, or an MVA registration card) and a written certification from a registered MCA healthcare provider, is needed. Minors will need proof of the caregiver’s guardianship.

It takes 1-2 business days to process an application submitted by your physician. If your documents are correct, you can start visiting dispensaries within a few days after the completion of your registration.

The MCA Patient ID card is valid for 6 years for patients and for 2 years for caregivers. But a patient should annually renew his/her physician certification to keep being able to buy marijuana at dispensaries – those are two different requirements.

You will need to annually renew your physician certification by making an appointment with a licensed Maryland practitioner. Additionally, every six years, you should renew your MCA Patient ID card via the Maryland OneStop portal and pay the $25 fee for it.

Yes. Annual physician certification (through telehealth), as well as six-year MCA registration renewal, are done via the Maryland OneStop portal. The renewal process may be initiated 60 days before the card’s expiration date.

The dispensary access for the medical tier ends on the expiration date, and the 0% medical sales tax rate goes down to the regular 12% adult-use cannabis tax rate. There is a 60-day grace period after the expiration date during which you can renew your card; otherwise, you have to make a new application.

Yes. Minors can access medical marijuana in Maryland, but their parent or legal guardian must first register as a caregiver. The parent/guardian submits the minor’s application, and a licensed physician must certify the minor. Minor patients can have up to four designated caregivers.

Yes. Caregivers must be at least 21 years old, be Maryland residents, and register with the MCA through the OneStop portal. A caregiver ID card costs $25 and is valid for two years. Each caregiver can assist up to five registered patients at a time.

Maryland does not accept out-of-state medical cards for reciprocity. However, a non-resident may register as a patient if they are physically present in Maryland, admitted to a Joint Commission-accredited medical facility, and will be dispensed cannabis during their inpatient stay before discharge.

You’re not required to have one, but it offers real financial and legal advantages. Medical cardholders pay 0% sales tax versus the 12% adult-use cannabis tax, can possess more cannabis, are allowed to cultivate up to four plants (vs. two for recreational users), and can access dispensaries at age 18 instead of 21.

Advantages include tax exemption, which will help you save more than $100 per year; increased possession limit (up to 120 grams of flower); right to grow at home (up to four plants); access to dispensaries starting at the age of 18; protection against criminal charges, and access to MMJ in some reciprocity states, such as Washington D.C., Maine, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

In Maryland, MMJ patients are allowed to possess up to 120 grams (or 4.2 ounces) of flower form of cannabis, as well as up to 36 grams of THC in other infused forms. This limit is noticeably higher than the possession limit for recreational users.

By holding your Kentucky registry identification card, you will show proof to law enforcement that you have registered with the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Program’s Patient Registry, which means that you are legally allowed to possess, transport, and consume medical cannabis products. Neither qualified patients, medical practitioners, caregivers, nor dispensary workers are criminally or civilly liable for any act done in conformity with the law, and neither shall the patient be denied organ transplants and other medical services due to the use of medical cannabis.

This will depend on the destination state. Some states that may recognize the Maryland MMJ card are D.C., Maine, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, but Arkansas and Oklahoma require an initial temporary visiting patient license. It is best to confirm the status of reciprocity in your destination state before any trip because it is still illegal to carry marijuana across state lines.

Yes. The application could be rejected if there is no proof of Maryland residence, no qualifying medical condition, the physician certification is not valid or incomplete, or the applicant does not meet the age criteria. Making sure that all documentation is completed and that the certifying physician is registered with the MCA will minimize the chances of rejection.