How to Get a Maryland Medical Marijuana Card

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Monday July 20, 2017

By Michael Walters

In April of 2014, medical marijuana was approved and legalized in the state of Maryland. House Bill 881 removed state penalties for patients using, possessing and cultivating marijuana, and effectively set the wheels in motion for lawmakers to create regulations for patients and medical marijuana businesses to function.

Today, Maryland’s medical cannabis program is up and running and the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) has already pre-approved 102 companies to dispense cannabis to qualifying patients. Final licenses have been awarded at this time, but members of the commission will soon be voting on the matter once companies undergo a final approval process. The MMCC will post locations of licensed dispensaries as they are established.

To become a medical a marijuana patient in the state of Maryland, your physician must first recommend medical marijuana as a viable treatment. Then, the patient must register with the MMCC. Once registered you will be able to seek a written certification from a state-licensed physician. Both residents and non-residents of Maryland are eligible to register with the MMCC, but you must be in the state for the purpose of receiving medical treatment if you are a non-resident.

Patients must be at least 18 years of age or older to register with the MMCC. Minors are allowed access, but they must have at least one caregiver registered with them at all times.

Patients who have been diagnosed with severe, debilitating or life-threatening conditions qualify for medical cannabis treatment in Maryland. Qualifying health conditions include:

• Anorexia

• Cachexia

• Chronic pain

• Glaucoma

• PTSD

• Seizures

• Severe nausea

• Severe or persistent muscle spasms

• Severe pain

• Wasting syndrome

Before obtaining written certification from a licensed physician, you must first register with the MMCC. Please note that after registering you will be required to obtain legitimate medical records and proof of your condition.

To apply for registration in the MMCC, eligible patients must:

• Gather all necessary materials and documents beforehand

  • The application must be completed in one session, so be prepared

• You will need:

  • Email account

  • Last 4 digits of social security number

  • Valid government-issued ID

    • Maryland residents acceptable forms

      • Driver’s license

      • Military ID

      • Passport

    • Non-residents acceptable forms

      • Driver’s license

      • Military ID

      • Passport

      • Proof you are in Maryland for medical treatment

  • Recent photograph

• Complete application

• Verify email address

  • If you do not do this step, your application will not be reviewed

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by the commission. If you are approved by the MMCC, you may visit a registered-physician to obtain a written certification. Be sure to save the confirmation email for your records.

Once your registration application has been approved by the MMCC, the next step is to find a licensed physician. Because this is an important step in the process, you’ll want to find a doctor through a reputable source.

Once you have obtained written certification, you may visit a licensed dispensary once they are open for business. You will need to bring a valid US government-issued ID and your MMCC-issued patient ID number.

Unfortunately, Maryland does not allow reciprocity for their medical marijuana program at this time.