Cannabis Laws in Maryland
Adult-use legal since July 2023; medical program ongoing; Schedule I at federal level.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check current rules with official sources or a lawyer.
Maryland legalized adult-use cannabis in November 2022 and sales started in July 2023. You can possess, grow, and gift within limits, but it's still federally illegal—that gap matters for employment, federal land, and firearms. The medical program is established and broad. Expungement is happening automatically for old possession convictions. Don't assume local rules match state law; cities and counties can impose stricter limits.
Not legal advice
This article is informational only and is not legal advice. Cannabis laws change frequently and enforcement varies by county and municipality. Consult a licensed Maryland attorney for advice about your specific situation. Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under U.S. federal law regardless of Maryland state law Strong evidence[1]. Information here was last verified in October 2026.
How Maryland got here
Maryland decriminalized small-amount possession in 2014, reducing penalties for less than 10 grams to a civil fine [2]. The same year, the legislature passed a medical cannabis framework; licensed medical sales began in 2017 under the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
In November 2022, voters approved Question 4, a constitutional amendment legalizing adult-use cannabis, by roughly 67% to 33% [3]. The companion legislation, the Cannabis Reform Act (HB 556), set up the regulatory structure, possession limits, taxation (9% sales tax on adult-use), and a social-equity-focused licensing scheme [4]. Adult-use sales began July 1, 2023, with existing medical operators allowed to convert to dual licenses on day one [4][5].
What adults 21+ can legally do
Under current Maryland law, adults 21 and older may [4]:
- Possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of concentrate, or edibles containing up to 750 milligrams of THC (the "personal use amount").
- Possess between the personal use amount and the "civil use amount" (2.5 oz flower / 20 g concentrate / 1,250 mg THC edibles) as a civil offense punishable by fine — not jail.
- Grow up to 2 cannabis plants per household (not per person) out of public view.
- Gift up to the personal use amount to another adult 21+, without remuneration.
- Purchase from licensed dispensaries (must show valid ID).
Possession above the civil use amount remains a criminal offense, with penalties escalating based on quantity and intent to distribute [4].
Where you can't use it
Public consumption is prohibited and punishable by civil fine [4]. This includes:
- Sidewalks, parks, beaches, and other public spaces
- Vehicles (driver or passenger) on public roads
- Federal land, including national parks
- Any indoor place where smoking tobacco is banned under the Clean Indoor Air Act
Landlords may prohibit smoking or growing in rental units, and most do. Hotels generally ban it. Employers may continue to enforce drug-free workplace policies and test for cannabis [4].
Driving under the influence of cannabis is a criminal offense; Maryland does not use a per se THC blood threshold but instead relies on officer observation and drug recognition experts [6]. A DUI conviction carries the same penalties as alcohol DUI [6].
Medical cannabis program
Maryland's medical cannabis program operates alongside adult-use. Patients with a written certification from a registered provider can buy at medical-only or dual-licensed dispensaries, are exempt from the 9% adult-use sales tax, and have higher possession limits — generally a 30-day supply as determined by their certifying provider [4].
Qualifying conditions are broad and include chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, PTSD, glaucoma, and any condition for which a provider believes cannabis would be beneficial. Patients aged 18–20 can only access the medical program, since adult-use is restricted to 21+. The program is administered by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) [4].
Licensing and social equity
Maryland uses a tiered license system: grower, processor, dispensary, micro-licenses (smaller-scale versions), and incubator space licenses [4]. The Cannabis Reform Act prioritized social equity applicants — defined as people from disproportionately impacted areas, those with a cannabis-related conviction, or graduates of certain Maryland universities with high Pell Grant enrollment [4].
The first round of new social equity licenses was awarded by lottery in 2024. Existing medical operators paid conversion fees to enter the adult-use market on July 1, 2023 [5].
Expungement of past convictions
The Cannabis Reform Act provided for automatic expungement of convictions for conduct that is no longer criminal under Maryland law — primarily simple possession of amounts now within legal limits [4][7]. The Maryland Judiciary has been processing these expungements since 2023, though backlogs exist. Convictions for distribution, possession with intent, or amounts still illegal are not automatically expunged but may be eligible for petition-based relief [7].
Federal law: what remains illegal
Maryland law does not override federal law Strong evidence[1]. Cannabis remains Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act Strong evidence[1]. Practical implications Strong evidence[1]:
- Federal employees, contractors, and many transportation workers are subject to federal drug testing.
- Possession on federal property (parks, courthouses, military bases, post offices) is a federal offense.
- Crossing state lines with cannabis — even to another legal state — is federal trafficking.
- Federally licensed firearms purchases require attesting you don't use cannabis; lying is a federal crime.
Sources
- Government U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug Scheduling — Marijuana (Schedule I). Accessed October 2026.
- Government Maryland General Assembly. Senate Bill 364 (2014) — Marijuana – Possession of Less Than Ten Grams.
- Government Maryland State Board of Elections. 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results — Question 4.
- Government Maryland General Assembly. House Bill 556 (2023) — Cannabis Reform Act.
- Reported Wood, P. (2023, June 30). 'Maryland's recreational marijuana market opens Saturday. Here's what to know.' The Baltimore Sun.
- Government Maryland Transportation Article §21-902. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Maryland General Assembly.
- Government Maryland Judiciary. Cannabis Expungement Information. Accessed October 2026.
- Government Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Open Letter to All Federal Firearms Licensees Regarding Marijuana (2011, reaffirmed).
How this page was made
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