Maryland cannabis laws: what's legal in 2026.

Is cannabis legal in Maryland?

Yes, for two groups:

• Adults 21 and over can buy, possess and use recreational cannabis within the limits set by state law.
• Registered medical patients can buy medical cannabis with a provider certification and an active registration. Patients under 18 can only obtain it through a registered caregiver.

Buying is only legal at a licensed dispensary. Adults 21 and older can give each other cannabis up to the personal use amount, but only as a true gift — no money or anything of value can change hands.

How Maryland got here

• 2014 — Maryland creates its medical cannabis program.
• 2017 — The first medical dispensaries open.
• November 2022 — Voters approve Question 4, a constitutional amendment legalizing recreational cannabis, with about two-thirds voting yes.
• 2023 — The Cannabis Reform Act sets up recreational sales and creates the Maryland Cannabis Administration to oversee both programs.
• July 1, 2023 — Recreational sales begin. Possession of the personal use amount becomes legal for adults 21 and over.
• June 2024 — The governor pardons more than 175,000 low-level cannabis convictions.
• July 1, 2025 — The sales tax on recreational cannabis rises from 9% to 12%.
• September 2025 — The Appellate Court of Maryland rules that hemp-derived delta-8 and delta-10 THC can't be sold outside the licensed cannabis system.

Who can buy cannabis in Maryland?

Recreational customers need to be 21 or older with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID or tribal card. Out-of-state IDs are accepted, so visitors can shop legally.

Medical patients need a certification from a registered provider and an active registration with the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Maryland doesn't accept out-of-state medical cards, so visiting patients shop the recreational menu. Our medical card guide walks through the process.

How much cannabis can you have?

Adults 21 and over can possess Maryland's personal use amount: 1.5 ounces of flower, 12 grams of concentrate, or cannabis products containing up to 750 mg of THC. That's also the most a recreational customer can buy in a single transaction. Above it, up to 2.5 ounces of flower, 20 grams of concentrate or 1,250 mg of THC, is a civil offense with a fine of up to $250; more than that is a crime.

Medical patients buy against a 30-day supply set by their provider — the standard is 120 grams of flower or 36 grams of THC. The full breakdown is in Maryland possession limits.

Where can you use cannabis?

Use is legal on private property where the owner allows it. It's not allowed:

• In public places — sidewalks, parks, beaches, the Ocean City boardwalk, restaurants, bars and venues. Public use is a civil offense with a fine.
• In a vehicle, as a driver or passenger, even when it's parked.
• On federal property, such as national parks, military bases and federal buildings.
• Anywhere a landlord, hotel or employer prohibits it.

Driving and cannabis

Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal in Maryland, and a medical card is no defense. There's no fixed THC limit; the question is whether you were impaired. The Maryland Cannabis Administration suggests waiting at least six hours after using cannabis before driving, and longer after edibles. Read Maryland's cannabis DUI laws for the details.

Can you grow cannabis at home?

Adults 21 and older can grow two plants per household, and seedlings count. Registered patients 21 and older can grow up to four, and that's still a per-household cap. Plants must be at your home, out of public view and secured from anyone under 21. Landlords can prohibit growing, and selling home-grown cannabis is illegal.

How much is the cannabis tax?

Recreational purchases carry Maryland's 12% sales and use tax on cannabis, in effect since July 1, 2025. Registered medical patients' purchases are exempt.

Work and past records

Legal use doesn't mean workplace protection. In most cases, Maryland employers can still test for cannabis, enforce a drug-free workplace policy and act on a positive test, and federally regulated jobs such as commercial drivers stay subject to federal drug-testing rules. Check your employer's policy.

For past records, cases where cannabis possession was the only charge were automatically expunged under the Cannabis Reform Act, and the governor's June 2024 pardons covered more than 175,000 low-level convictions. Other cases may need a petition. The Maryland Judiciary and the Maryland People's Law Library have the forms and free guidance.

Is delta-8 THC legal in Maryland?

Only through the licensed cannabis system. In September 2025, the Appellate Court of Maryland ruled in Moore v. Maryland Hemp Coalition that hemp-derived delta-8 and delta-10 THC sold outside it are illegal. Any business selling intoxicating cannabinoids, whether from hemp or cannabis, needs a state cannabis license.

Where can you legally buy cannabis?

Only at a dispensary licensed by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Most serve both medical patients and recreational customers. In Montgomery County, Bloom Germantown is a licensed medical and recreational dispensary serving Germantown, Boyds, Clarksburg, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Village and Rockville. Bloom doesn't deliver — shop in store or order ahead for pickup.

For the latest rules, see the MCA's cannabis FAQs.

Legal notice. This guide is for general information, not legal advice. Maryland's cannabis laws can change at any time. Check current rules with the Maryland Cannabis Administration or ask a qualified attorney. Bloom Germantown only sells products from growers and processors licensed by the state of Maryland.