How To Buy Medical Marijuana In Maryland

With the passage of medical marijuana legislation in 2012, Maryland patients with debilitating health issues became eligible to purchase cannabis for medicinal purposes. Medical marijuana dispensaries began opening their doors in 2017 to serve qualified patients. Today there are more than 60,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Maryland benefiting from the wide variety of cannabis products now available to them.

Obtaining Your Medical Marijuana Card In Maryland

Before you can visit a Maryland medical marijuana dispensary and purchase cannabis, you’ll need to register with the state. At that time you’ll be advised to see a physician for evaluation and diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition.

Medical Marijuana Qualifying ConditionsI In Maryland

Once you’ve registered with the state, make an appointment with a certified doctor who will examine you to determine if you have a qualifying condition. In Maryland, they are:

• Severe pain
• Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
• Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
• Glaucoma
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anorexia
• Severe and persistent muscle spasms
• Another chronic medical condition which is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective

Receiving Your Medical Marijuana Card In Maryland

If your physical examination shows that you have met at least one of Maryland’s qualifying conditions, you’ll receive an approval email from the state along with a printable temporary medical marijuana card. Fortunately, you can use your temporary card while you wait for the permanent card to arrive - which could take 45 days or longer.

Purchasing Medical Marijuana In A Maryland Dispensary

You’ve finally received your medical marijuana card and are ready to purchase cannabis for your qualifying condition. It’s a good time to consider which types of medical marijuana products appeal to you most. Keep in mind that Maryland dispensaries like Nature’s Medicines offer a large variety to choose from:

• Medical marijuana flower
• Pre-rolled medical marijuana joints
• Tinctures
• Extracts
• Tablets
• Creams
• Patches
• Chewables
• Medical marijuana - infused drinks

Medical marijuana edibles aren’t legal yet in Maryland, though there are ingestible products available for purchase.

Medical Marijuana Caregivers

A caregiver in Maryland must first register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission in order to purchase medical marijuana for their patients. Caregivers, who have to be over 21years old, are allowed to have up to five patients at one time. After paying a fee of $50, medical marijuana caregivers will receive a permanent registration card in the mail enabling them to shop at medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.

Credit / Debit Cards At Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

It’s always a good idea to bring cash with you on your medical marijuana dispensary visits. Since purchasing cannabis is still considered illegal by the Federal government, credit cards can’t be used. Fortunately, many dispensaries have ATM machines, but play it safe and call ahead to find out what payment options will be available to you.

If you have any questions about medical marijuana in Maryland, ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Care Provider during your next visit.

Visit our medical marijuana dispensary in Crofton, Maryland
Visit our medical marijuana dispensary in Ellicott City, Maryland

For more information on medical marijuana in Maryland, see also:
How To Choose A Dispensary In Maryland
Maryland Medical Marijuana Laws
How To Get A Medical Marijuana (MMJ) Card In Maryland
Maryland Allotment of Medical Marijuana
Maryland Medical Marijuana – Do’s and Don’ts
History of Medical Marijuana in Maryland
Crofton Medical Marijuana Certifiers
Ellicott City Medical Marijuana Certifiers