How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card Maryland Online

Medical marijuana is helping millions of people deal with chronic medical conditions every day. 

If you’re from Maryland and have a qualifying condition you can be quickly approved to gain access to medical cannabis products from state dispensaries. 

Take it from a medical marijuana patient (me!), you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by seeing if you qualify for a Maryland medical marijuana card. 

Keep reading to find out how you can do it from home.

Maryland Medical Marijuana Program

In 2013, Maryland Governor O’Malley was the first to sign legislation regarding medical marijuana. It established a medical marijuana program in the state. Distribution of cannabis was only permitted in academic medical centers. This is because the patients could be closely monitored. 

A full medical cannabis program first obtained approval in Maryland in 2014. 

House Bill 881‘s passage established the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). 

This program allows the following medical professionals to certify patients:

• physicians
• nurse practitioners
• dentists
• podiatrists
• nurse midwives 

Any health care professional must register as a provider before certifying patients. 

This approach may seem liberal compared to other states. But access to cannabis was still being fought for. Several large health care systems tried to bar access to patients. They did so by barring their doctors from giving recommendations. 

After the passing of Bill 881, rules and regulations were finally laid for medical marijuana. But there was a long road ahead to seeing the first dispensaries selling to patients. 

This Bill made possession of marijuana a civil infraction. Before it was a criminal charge. 

People caught in possession of one ounce or less of marijuana were able to use an affirmative defense to the possession charge. Anyone unable to prove medical necessity could face a maximum penalty of $100. 

In 2016, the Maryland General Assembly passed another Bill, 517. This one decriminalized the possession of marijuana paraphernalia like rolling papers and bongs. It also decriminalized smoking marijuana in public. Both of these offenses are punishable by a fine of up to $500. 

At this time, 15 preliminary licenses were awarded to different applicants. They were the only groups permitted to grow medical marijuana. 15 licenses were also given to processing facilities. 

These locations process medical marijuana into varying forms of medication. They include things like pills, oils, and other products. 

In 2017, dispensaries in Maryland finally opened up for business. Medical cannabis patients could finally begin to purchase medical marijuana products. 

By 2019, there were already 85 licensed dispensaries operating. And the state’s program continues to grow. 

During the Covid 19 pandemic, the rules got a little easier for patients. Prior to this, you had to go to see a doctor in person to get a certification for medical marijuana use. But after the start of the pandemic, the rules changed. 

Now, you can attend your appointment with your physician online. 

In 2020, Governor Hogan chose not to sign House Bill 617 or Senate Bill 604. But he allowed them to become law anyway. They allow for the administration of medical cannabis to qualifying minor patients. They specifically relate to school hours and school-sponsored events. 

House Bill 32 was introduced in 2021. It is the first bill to propose legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana. 

Following closely behind, House Bill 1 was introduced in 2022. This was in an effort to put recreational marijuana on the ballot. 

We will have to stay tuned to see what changes come for this state. A recreational program may get approval in the near future. But it may be a while before the state implements the changes. 

As of now, medical marijuana patients can buy up to 120 grams of flower for a 30-day period. A physician may recommend more if necessary for your specific condition. 

If concentrates are your preferred form of medication, the limit is up to 36 grams of THC extract per month. Edibles are not allowed in Maryland dispensaries.

Maryland Medical Card Requirements

The requirements to qualify for a Maryland medical marijuana card are very similar to those in most other states. 

First, you must be a legal resident of the Old Line State. 

Next, patients must be 18 years or older to qualify on their own. 

If the patient is a minor, a pediatric specialist must agree that they will benefit from medical cannabis treatment. This is in addition to the certification required from a licensed medical marijuana doctor. 

Out-of-state patients may apply to the Maryland state program. It may be worth your while if you plan to be in the state for an extended amount of time. 

Visiting patients need to apply for a medical card just like Maryland residents do. You will need to provide proof of staying in Maryland when you apply. 

For veterans to get a medical marijuana card they need to check their eligibility first. They can confirm that they have permission to use medical cannabis through the Veterans Affairs office. 

As long as it is provided as part of their certified provider recommendation they can qualify.

Minors and Caregivers

Minor patients cannot apply on their own. They must have a caregiver help them complete the process. This is most often a parent or legal guardian. Minor patients can have two registered caregivers at one time. 

Registered caregivers must be 21 years or older. A caregiver must register online, fill out their own application, and get approved by the MMCC. 

To purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary caregivers must buy an MMCC ID card. 

To become a registered caregiver, Maryland residents need to go through a similar approval process to that of patients. Caregivers must create an account by entering their personal information and creating a password. 

Then, they must fill out and submit their application. 

To officially complete and submit the caregiver application you need to verify your email address. 

A verification link will go to the email provided when you created the account. 

Open the email and click on the link as soon as possible. Without doing this step the application will remain incomplete. It will not be reviewed by the commission. 

After the email gets verified, applicants will receive a follow-up email. It will let them know whether or not their application was approved. 

Caregivers should keep a copy of this approval email for their records. It will contain the username as well as the MMCC ID number issued to them if approved. 

If they get approved, they can designate a registered patient. The patient must log into their MMCC account and designate the caregiver in the Patient Registry. 

After the caregiver has registered with the program and they have a patient designation they can purchase an ID card. 

With their ID card, they can buy medical marijuana and transport it on their patient’s behalf. 

The fee to buy a designated caregiver card is $50. The fee to replace a lost or stolen card is $100. 

Lastly, to qualify for medical marijuana treatment in MD, you need to live with one of the qualifying conditions on the list approved by the state.

Qualifying Conditions For Medical Card In Maryland

Any individual who lives in Maryland can qualify to be a patient if they have one of the following conditions:

• cachexia
• anorexia
• wasting syndrome 
• severe or chronic pain 
• severe nausea 
• seizures 
• severe or persistent muscle spasms 
• glaucoma 
• post-traumatic stress disorder 

Other types of chronic or severe medical conditions may be approved. 

If other treatments have proven ineffective, then a medical marijuana doctor may still provide a written certification. They can do this for other conditions if they think MMJ treatment can help. 

Maryland Medical Marijuana Purchase Limits

Maryland medical patients can purchase medical cannabis only from a licensed Maryland dispensary. 

The written certification you get from your physician states the amount of dried cannabis flower and THC that you can purchase in a 30-day period. 

Therefore, a 30-day supply will be different between patients. The 30-day period is calculated on a rolling basis, not by the month. 

There is a standard limit for patients who do not need individualized treatment plans. This is 120 grams of dried flower or 36 grams of THC product for one patient. It is possible for a patient to be certified for more or less than the standard amounts. 

There are limitations on the types of products you can buy. For example, edibles are only available at some Maryland dispensaries. 

But there are many other options. Chances are a dispensary will have a variety of strains of cannabis flower. They may all have unique characteristics for helping with different types of ailments most importantly depending on their terpene profile. 

And there are products available. They include:

• oils
• concentrates
• ointments
• waxes
• tinctures
• patches
• salves
• capsules and more

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card In Maryland

Before you can get your medical marijuana card in Maryland you need to register with MMCC. This is not the case in most other states. Normally, patients start the process by speaking directly with a licensed medical marijuana doctor. 

As a Maryland resident, you will need to register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. Then you can obtain a patient ID number, This has to be done before you can do anything else. 

Once you have this ID number, you can meet with a physician registered with the commission. If they think you are eligible to try medical marijuana treatment they will say so. Then they will provide you with your written certification. 

You can get your recommendation by attending an in-person appointment or by doing it online. Using an online Telehealth service is generally much cheaper and can save lots of time. 

The most well-established medical marijuana platforms have money-back guarantees. This way if you are unable to be approved for any reason you won’t have wasted a penny. 

Either way, you decide to do it, there is a simple three-step process to becoming a medical marijuana patient. Here it is. 

1. Apply Via The Maryland One Stop Gov Page

To become a patient you must register with the Maryland medical cannabis commission. This is the first step to becoming an MD medical cannabis patient.

The website walks you through everything you need to know. Follow the instructions and you will successfully create an account and register with the program. 

It takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete the application process. You cannot save it. Make sure you have all your documents ready to go before you begin the application. 

It costs $50 to submit and there are no refunds. 

You will need to upload three things to your online application: 

• valid US government-issued ID card
• proof of Maryland residency
• an electronic copy of a clear and recent photograph

You will also need to find a registered medical provider. And they will ask you to identify which of the state dispensaries you will purchase your medical cannabis from. 

2. Consult With A Maryland Certified Healthcare Professional

This is the part of the process you can choose to complete in person or online. 

Either face-to-face or through a video call, you will meet with a licensed health care provider. They must be registered with the Maryland medical cannabis commission. 

Law requires the two of you to have a bonafide provider-patient relationship. 

They can recommend medical marijuana treatment to any of their patients that are diagnosed with a condition approved for MMJ treatment. 

And they can also recommend treatment to anyone who has another chronic medical condition. That is if they believe that the condition is severe and resistant to alternative treatment options. 

The MMCC encourages all of its state providers to register with the program. Any provider that has an active, unrestricted license can apply. 

For approval by the MMCC, they need to be in good standing with their state board. They must also be actively registered to prescribe controlled substances in the state. 

If a doctor deems medical marijuana treatment appropriate for you, they will send your information directly to the MMCC. This is why it is important you properly follow the first step and get your patient ID number. Do this before speaking with a physician. 

They will provide the MMCC with your patient ID number. Your written medical cannabis certification will be issued through the commission’s secure online application form.

3. Obtain Your MMCC ID Card

It can take up to 3 or more weeks before your application gets approved. At this point, an e-medical card will be e-mailed to you. 

Check your email and print this card, as you can use this digital card to shop at state dispensaries as soon as you get it. You will receive your physical card in the mail. It will be issued by the Maryland government. You can expect this to take another month or so. 

Patients are required to show their medical marijuana card at dispensaries when making purchases. A dispensary staff member will verify your certification in the state database. They have to do this before completing the transaction. 

If a purchase is not made at a licensed Maryland dispensary within 120 days the card will become null and void.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card In Maryland Online

Instead of going the traditional route of visiting a doctor in person, you can consult with one online. By choosing to complete step two of the process above with a video chat you can save yourself precious time and money. 

Online consultations streamline the appointment schedule and process. They are often completed in as little as 15 minutes. And they are valid for an entire year. 

The two online services we recommend you check out are Leafwell and Veriheal. Both of them service Maryland patients. And both services have money-back guarantees for prospective patients that do not get approved. 

It costs $149 for the consultation and service fee from Leafwell. 

It will cost $199 to go through the process with Veriheal. Both of these platforms offer discounts for people who sign up together. So if you have a friend or family member you can sign up together for some additional savings. 

Once you choose which platform you want to use you can get started on the process right away. 

Remember, you need to register with the Maryland medical cannabis commission first. So if you haven’t already make sure to register and get your ID number right now! 

Then, you can pick back up by scheduling your appointment to speak with a physician. 

Both services will have you provide some personal information to establish your account. You can expect to give information like your legal name, address, and date of birth. 

You can provide additional information like your medical records if you wish to. It can make the upcoming telehealth appointment with your physician faster and easier. 

They will be able to jump right into the appointment with you, already caught up on your medical history. This way they can discuss why you might want medical marijuana treatment, what kind of effects you hope to achieve, and more. 

This is a great time for you to ask them any questions you may have. You can ask about medical marijuana in general, the state program, or how shopping at dispensaries works. 

They are used to working with first-time patients. These licensed physicians are uniquely qualified to provide medical marijuana information and advice. 

Once your appointment finishes you will know if you are approved or not. If so, then your licensed physician will send in your information to the MMCC. 

You get to enjoy the simplified process of getting certified online. And, you can get some additional value from using an online service, too. 

For example, you can log back into your account and take advantage of amazing customer support teams. 

Veriheal has around-the-clock customer service reps and cannabis coaches ready to answer all of your questions. And Leafwell has a team of experts ready to answer any questions during business hours. 

Otherwise, you can send any questions to their support email. You can expect a timely response, usually the next business day. 

They also have amazing state-specific resources available. You can use them to familiarize yourself with medical marijuana and treatment options.

Maryland Medical Marijuana Card Benefits

The main benefit to getting a medical marijuana card in Maryland is that it is the only way to legally consume marijuana in the state. Recreational cannabis use is still illegal. 

Possessing 10 grams or less of marijuana for personal use is a civil offense with a maximum fine of $100.

Whereas possessing up to 50 pounds of cannabis is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. At the moment, the only way to avoid these penalties is to join the Maryland medical cannabis program!

Maryland’s medical cannabis laws also offer some protections for qualifying patients and caregivers in the workplace. They may not be “denied any right or privilege” because of their status as a medical marijuana patient. They are protected as long as they are complying with the laws. 

However, employers may still test employees for cannabis. And they can terminate an employee who tests positive for THC. Even if they are a medical cannabis patient.

Another benefit to joining the medical cannabis program is how easy it makes it to obtain medical cannabis. You get to enjoy access to third-party tested products that are pure and potent. 

All state dispensaries are regulated thoroughly by the program. As well as cultivators, processors, and manufacturers. All the products that end up on a dispensary shelf have been third-party tested. The tests check for contaminants and verify the potency of products.

Tests check for things like heavy metals, residual solvents, molds, and mildews. In addition to this type of quality control testing, products are also tested for potency. These tests verify how much THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are in the products. 

This is important information to know. Each strain of cannabis has its own unique therapeutic profile. For example, plants that are high in CBD may be more suited for certain medical conditions than those that are high in THC. 

With accurate labels, budtenders can help guide patients towards products that are right for them. They can try out strains that will offer the most benefit for their specific needs. 

Better yet, you can book one of Veriheal’s virtual cannabis coaches to customize your wellness plan in a private, scientific, and comfortable way. You can even meet with our in-house medical reviewer, Dr. Abraham Benavides, by request through their platform. 

Another benefit a medical cannabis card affords you is some level of state legal protection. These state protections are reserved only for valid cardholders. Recreational marijuana use is still illegal. 

You may be able to benefit from medical marijuana reciprocity. States that accept out-of-state cards may accept a valid Maryland medical card. 

These are the states that have some form of medical marijuana reciprocity:

• Arkansas
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• Washington D.C.

Some of these states may require visiting patients to complete a visiting application. The rules will be unique to each state program so you should call ahead before you travel.

Maryland medical cannabis patients may not grow their own marijuana plants. All products must come from a state-licensed dispensary.

Does Maryland Accept Out Of State Medical Cards?

No, Maryland does not accept out-of-state medical cards. You will not be able to use your medical marijuana card in Maryland if you are visiting from another state.

Wrapping Up Medical Card In Maryland

It is a simple three-step process to get your medical cannabis card in Maryland. 

Register with the Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). Obtain a written certification from a licensed physician. And pay the fees and submit your state application. 

After you finish these steps you can legally purchase medical cannabis from dispensaries. Get your patient ID number today and see if you qualify.