Despite decriminalization and legalization efforts, the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Maryland. However, since October 2014, the possession of less than 10 grams is only an infraction. As of 2016 and beyond, the possession of marijuana paraphernalia and smoking in public can be punished by a fine of up to $500.
On the other hand, the medical use of marijuana has been legal in the state since 2012. It is governed by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC).
Patients, their caregivers, as well as healthcare providers have to be registered with the commission in order to be eligible to participate in the program. Let’s take a closer look at the status of medical marijuana in Maryland.
History
Up until 2012 and the establishment of a statewide medical marijuana program, the use of cannabis for medical purposes was illegal in Maryland. However, it wasn’t until December 1, 2017, that the system began to function properly.
Governor Martin O’Malley signed a law back in April 2014 which decriminalized the possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana to a civil infraction. The law went into effect in October of the same year.
SB 517, passed in 2016, decriminalized the possession of marijuana paraphernalia and smoking in public. According to the bill, both offenses would be punishable by up to a $500 fine. The bill was vetoed by Republican Governor Larry Hogan, but the Maryland General Assembly later overrode his veto.
In 2017, a legalization initiative was spearheaded by Curt Anderson and Richard Madaleno of the Democratic Party. If passed into law, the proposed bill would allow individuals aged 21 and over to grow marijuana plants (up to six) and legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana. The bill also contained tax propositions. However, it didn’t pass.
Eligibility
Like the other states which legalized the use of medical marijuana, potential users of medical marijuana in Maryland need to prove their eligibility before they can register with the MMCC. According to Maryland’s medical marijuana laws, only severe and debilitating diseases and conditions can qualify a patient for the card.
As of this writing, the list of qualifying diseases and conditions includes severe pain, glaucoma, chronic pain, severe nausea, persistent and severe muscle spasms, seizures, wasting syndrome, PTSD, anorexia, and cachexia.
Patients with other severe illnesses and conditions which didn’t’ respond to conventional treatment might also seek out a physician’s recommendation for medical marijuana therapy. Some of the conditions and symptoms include insomnia, migraines, cancer, anxiety, depression, among others. However, the current law lets the physicians decide whether to recommend medical marijuana to their qualifying patients.
Registration
All patients and their caregivers (should they choose to have a caregiver) must register with the MMCC. Unlike in some other states, the only way to apply in Maryland is via an online application form. The MMCC official site has separate forms for patients, caregivers and health care providers.
In order to submit the online application, a patient won’t need to provide their medical records but just the following: a valid email address, a copy of a valid photo ID issued by the US or state government, a proof of Maryland residence, last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security Number, and a photo taken in the last six months.
Once they’ve gathered all the needed data, applicants should go to the MMCC’s official website, navigate to the “Patients” page, and click the “Create Account” button. The applicants should fill out the registration form and hit submit. They will then receive an email with a confirmation link. If the link is not clicked, the application will be considered incomplete and it won’t be processed.
The waiting period is up to 45 calendar days. Once the registration has been approved, the patient will get an email from the MMCC informing them that the registration was successful. The email should also contain the patient’s ID number.
Doctors
After registering with the MMCC, a patient must visit a physician who’s registered with the commission to obtain their certification. The physician will then electronically process the paperwork on the patient’s behalf and issue them a written certification, thus making them eligible to purchase medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary.
As of this writing, the fees charged by MMCC registered physicians are around $200. The only way for patients to legally obtain medical marijuana in Maryland is through a licensed dispensary.
Out-of-State Patients
Residents of other states who visit Maryland for medical purposes can also obtain a marijuana ID in the state. Though the application process is largely the same as for the residents, out-of-state patients are also required to provide the address of the medical facility in Maryland where they’re receiving their treatment.
Conclusion
Despite the recent decriminalization and legalization efforts, the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in Maryland. On the other hand, medical marijuana has been legal in Maryland since 2012. However, the MMJ system only became functional in December 2017.
The state requires patients (both minor and adult), caregivers, and healthcare providers to be registered with the MMCC in order to legally participate in the system. The application process in Maryland is among the more complex in the country and can take quite some time. As of this writing, registered patients are not allowed to grow their own marijuana or get it from their caregivers.
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Hi Margeret,
We have made it our mission to try and put out as much useful information for the safe and legal use of cannabis as we can. It’s an ongoing project and it takes a lot of work but we are passionate about it. I don’t do all of the writing and I have great writers and researchers contributing to the effort.
As we are very serious in helping to get useful information out to users (mainly those looking at medical use and wanting to get free of addictive substances and medicines that may not be working well for them) we link as much as we can on an article post with lots of other government and business sites that are active in the industry to get a rich amount of information across in articles. We also strive to get professional confirmation on information given via links too.
We are in the process now of producing a series of articles on the treatment of specific medical conditions with cannabis products and that series will be written by a doctor of medicine.
Thank you very much for comment and support.