Cannabis Legalization Status in Maryland

Maryland is a fishing-friendly state in the United States. It's a destination worth seeing, especially if you appreciate exploring amazing tourist attractions. Maryland is a great spot to visit for a vacation! However, if you're a cannabis user searching for a new area to experiment with your herb, Maryland might not be the greatest choice.

Maryland residents can only possess up to 120 grams or about 4.23 ounces of marijuana and 36 grams of THC-infused consumables every 30 days. It is allowed only if they have a documented prescription from a doctor qualified to recommend marijuana, according to SB 923 and HB 881, which were approved in 2014.

You may find the restrictions perplexing, which is why we've included more extensive information in this post to answer any concerns you may have regarding cannabis in Maryland. Read on for more details.

●     Is Cannabis Legal in Maryland

●     Regulations About Cannabis

●     How to Legally Obtain Medical Marijuana?

●     Cannabis Business in Maryland

Is Cannabis Legal in Maryland?

Medical marijuana is permitted in Maryland, but recreational cannabis is not. Possession of 10 grams or 3/8 oz or less is, nonetheless, legal. With 409 arrests per 100,000 persons in 2010, Maryland has the fifth-highest total incident rate for pot possession in the United States. Marijuana charges accounted for 49.9% of all drug offenses charges in the area that year.

In addition, Black persons in Maryland were 2.9 times more likely than white persons to be prosecuted for pot possession. Governor Martin O'Malley, on the other hand, passed a bill in April 2014 decriminalizing the purchase of 10 grams or less of cannabis. The law rendered such ownership a civil offense, equivalent to receiving a traffic ticket. On October 1, 2014, the legislation went into force.

According to the law, people over the age of 21 who are suspected of carrying less than 10 grams of marijuana must pay a fine and undergo drug educational programs. The Maryland cannabis legislation act was proposed in the state legislature in 2017 to legalize, tax, and regulating recreational marijuana in the state.

The legislation would have enabled those aged 21 and above to carry up to an ounce of cannabis and produce up to six marijuana plants legally, with a $30 per ounce assessment fee for growers and a 9% sales tax for purchasers. Prior arrests for marijuana possession in those amounts or less would be expunged under the bill's provisions. The bill was not approved.

Latest Updates

The Maryland House of Delegates approved a measure (94-36) on February 12, 2021, that would have raised the quantity of marijuana legalized from 10 grams to one ounce. The measure, HB 324, was cross-filed in the Senate (SB 143), but the Senate decided not to take it up before the conference concluded.

Before the senate's truncated 2020 conversation ended, members passed HB 83, which will immediately protect historical marijuana offenses that occurred before October 1, 2014. Regrettably, Governor Larry Hogan vetoed the bill. During the 2021 assembly, the house overruled Gov. Hogan's veto, and the act was declared official on February 12, 2021.

In 2020, the House passed a similar bill, but the Senate did not take it up before the session departed early due to the coronavirus outbreak. The General Assembly adjourned its 2021 parliamentary session on Monday, April 12th, without taking any action on legislation.

During the 2021 state legislature, Delegate Jazz Lewis presented and supported HB 32, or "The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act of 2021."

Regulations About Cannabis

Since cannabis is not yet entirely legal in Maryland, the state has passed medicinal marijuana legislation and outlawed small quantities of personal possession. In Maryland, cannabis ownership of fewer than 10 grams is legalized and punishable by a civil fine of up to $100. Bigger quantities, however, are illegal.

It is a crime to have any amount of marijuana in your possession with the intent to sell it. The maximum penalty is five years in jail and a fine of $15,000 if the quantity is less than 50 pounds. The penalties are the same with weights larger than 50 pounds, except that a five-year obligatory minimum jail sentence is applied.

Maryland has a "drug kingpin" legislation that punishes elevated smugglers with at least 20 years in jail and up to 40 years in jail, as well as penalties of up to $1 million. In addition, transporting marijuana is a crime in Maryland, with any cannabis violation involving five kilos or more being deemed smuggling.

The maximum penalty is 10 years in jail plus $10,000 in penalties if the amount is between five and 45 kg. The maximum penalty for trafficking is 25 years in jail and $50,000 in fines for amounts higher than 45 kilos. For drug trafficking while in possession of a handgun, a term of at least five years and up to twenty years is imposed.

What the Law Says About Medical Cannabis

In 2013, Maryland passed a medicinal cannabis law that requires institutions to learn how to participate in cannabis dispensing. In 2014, a new regulation was adopted, enabling dispensaries and farmers to supply medical cannabis to registered patients who have acquired a written referral from their doctor.

You must have been clinically diagnosed with qualifying diseases such as cachexia, anorexia, chronic pain, glaucoma, or PTSD to receive medicinal marijuana lawfully. These qualifying ailments also include severe muscular spasms, extreme nausea, seizures, and other chronic medical disorders. Patients are authorized to have a 30-day supply under the law, but edibles are not permitted.

How to Legally Obtain Medical Marijuana?

Residents of Maryland must register with MMCC as patients. Patients, including minors and adults, must register to become patients. Individuals must acquire a valid written recommendation from a provider licensed with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission after completing the registration process.

By law, the patient must have a genuine provider-patient connection with the provider, and the provider must authorize medicinal marijuana as a therapeutic option for a qualifying medical condition. Any provider who holds a current, unrestricted license from their respective board and is actively licensed to prescribe controlled medications in Maryland is eligible to register with MMCC.

The provider will require the patient's MMCC-issued Patient ID Number to provide the medical cannabis certification through the Commission's secure online form once both the patient and the physician have enrolled with MMCC. Patients can acquire medicinal cannabis from licensed Maryland shops after registering, getting a valid written prescription from a certified practitioner, and generating a temporary MMCC Patient ID card.

Patients will be asked to display their MMCC ID card when purchasing medicinal cannabis from a licensed dispensary. Before executing any activity, the dispensary agent will check the patient's accreditation in the Commission's system.

FAQs

How Can You Get a Certification?

A user must see a qualified physician with whom he or she has a "bona fide provider-patient relationship." The physician should provide accreditation if the person fits the provider's requirements for medicinal marijuana therapy.

Where Can You Get a Medical Cannabis and How?

Only a Maryland-licensed dispensary can provide you with authorized medicinal cannabis. The quantity of dried bud and THC that a person may acquire in 30 days is determined by the qualification granted by a provider for that patient. The restriction is based on 30 days rather than a calendar month.

Cannabis Business in Maryland

Maryland is a unique state in that counties and towns cannot prohibit medicinal cannabis firms from functioning. Medical cannabis companies can now function in any city or county in Maryland. Dispensaries, growers, cultivator/dispensary combinations, manufacturers, and research labs are among the five types of medical cannabis enterprises licensed in Maryland.

There are two levels of application costs for cannabis company owners: everyone pays the first stage charge, and if your firm is accepted, you also pay the second stage price. For a grower or dispensary, the application costs are $11,000, $6,000 for grower or processors, $5,000 for a dispensary, or $100 for a testing facility.

Annual licensing payments for cultivators/dispensaries are roughly $165,000, $125,000 for cultivators, $40,000 for dispensaries or processors, and $100 for testing labs. Keep in mind that though a business plan is not essential to obtain a medical marijuana company permit in Maryland, it will make the process go more smoothly.

An operation strategy, including storage solutions, is already required in your application and might be incorporated into a business plan. A business plan is required if you intend to raise capital from depositors.

The Bottom Line

Marijuana laws are changing rapidly around the country, but cultivating marijuana is still illegal in Maryland, and individuals accused of cultivating marijuana might face fraud charges. Producing cannabis without a medical card is unlawful, and anyone caught doing so would most certainly face charges of marijuana production or possession with possession of a controlled substance.

Furthermore, before trying any cannabis products in other regions, such as Maryland, it's usually a good idea to examine the area's law and any other possible rules that you need to be aware of to avoid getting penalized.

Wake and Bake: DC Scheduled Weed Delivery for First Timers

The advantages of scheduled weed delivery in DC are almost endless, helping people stay at home and get marijuana supplies easily. At the time of the pandemic, it is important to restrict the trips outside, and simply get delivery services and receive goods at the doorstep.

No need to go out and drop by a dispensary to get weed supply, line up for half an hour, and drive back home. Schedule delivery services provide a hassle-free service of getting a stash of marijuana on a given time and date.

For first-time buyers in DC, learning about the laws and regulations on weed delivery is crucial to get marijuana and CBD products. In this article, we are going to dive deeper into the weed delivery services in DC, and why schedule deliveries are on the rise.

DC Recreational Marijuana

The recreational marijuana laws in DC are quite confusing for newbies who come from states like California or Colorado. For one, buying directly at dispensaries isn’t allowed, and the only way to get marijuana is through trading, gifting, and freebies.

The DC legislature leaves a grey area on purchasing recreational marijuana, preventing ramping up of supplies, and limiting people’s purchasing power. By understanding the laws, consumers won’t get in trouble and enjoy recreational weed more.

When the Initiative 71 took full effect in 2015, DC residents are allowed to consume recreational marijuana at home, cultivate up to six plants, and carry less than 2 ounces of weed in public for personal use. Individuals under the age of 21 aren’t allowed to smoke or consume any marijuana products, as it’s against the law.

Basically, the state authorities are limiting the consumption of marijuana, banning public smoking and driving under the influence of the drug. Since 2015, residents are only allowed to trade items for weed, donate and receive marijuana as a gift, and get cannabis as a freebie from buying other products like clothing and smoking accessories.

These are better compared to not getting weed at all, in comparison to other states like Wisconsin and Wyoming. By observing the laws in place, residents can consume weed in their private property, plant, but not sell to other people.

In addition, no single person should smoke weed in public places like parking lots, parks, restaurants, malls, and fitness centers. Anyone found doing this illegal activity is subject to a maximum penalty of $1,000 or jail time up to 60 days. The reason behind this is, the DC Department of Health is trying to reduce the exposure of secondhand smoke, which can affect other people.

Scheduled Marijuana Orders

As mentioned, customers cannot buy weed directly from any other dispensaries in the state. The only way to get the supply is by buying a different product and gets the weed as a freebie. Hence, the schedule marijuana delivery is meant for buying another product, then a small pack of weed is provided to customers.

Different dispensaries have distinct rules on scheduled delivery services, and most of the time, couriers set a cut-off daily to avoid late-night delivery. The schedule delivery option is for people who want to place advance orders or deliver the item the following day.

For instance, if a customer is low on a marijuana supply, he or she can place an order online for a scheduled delivery of his or her choice. The customer can choose for the desired time and date of delivery, suited to his or her schedule. Given this setup, a customer can easily receive the order and pay the item without a hassle.

There are also some online delivery services like Ghouse, which arrange private meetups with a minimum order size of $75 for the accessories and other items. The private meetup could be anywhere near The National Cathedral on Wisconsin Avenue. Other weed delivery providers only support door-to-door delivery for a single purchase.

One thing that makes scheduled marijuana delivery better than regular delivery is, customers can expect the package on time, with real-time tracking, and order confirmation. Additionally, customers can select the preferred date and time to expect the order and receive it personally.

Choosing Delivery Services in DC

The weed delivery services in DC are saturated, and first-time buyers can easily fall victim to poor customer service and poor quality marijuana freebie. To get away with these things, it is important to choose the best weed delivery in DC and get excellent service.

Some of the things to consider are customers’ reviews, availability of products, and proximity of the dispensary.

For safety, customers need to know if the marijuana freebie is high quality, and doesn’t provide physical effects such as vomiting, nausea, and dehydration. The risks are higher with poor quality weed, those who are passed the shelf life. Usually, well-cured marijuana can stay up to six months to a year, depending on the quality. Ensure that supplies are always fresh, and the supplier is reliable.

Another way to check the quality of marijuana freebie offered by dispensaries is by checking customers’ reviews. If most customers can vouch for the quality of the items and the free weed, then consider buying from the service provider or supplier. Check other online forums too, and see whether the brand has consistently good reviews from buyers.

The availability of the products matters too, as some strains aren’t common. Consult the dispensary and ask if you can choose the freebies you want. If looking for specific marijuana strain or product, contact the service providers first before placing an order.

Finally, the proximity of the dispensary matters when getting scheduled weed delivery. Some areas are not serviceable, and dispensaries require an additional charge to deliver the items and freebies. Find out if your area is covered by the delivery service, and if not, consider finding another marijuana dispensary within your location.

Because quarantine procedures are stricter in some areas, many people would accept additional charges for weed delivery. After all, this is safe than going out of the house to get the marijuana supply.

Best Weed Delivery in DC

Despite the threat of the coronavirus, DC allowed emergency marijuana orders in the state. Curbside pickup and door-to-door deliveries are only available for individuals with a medical marijuana card, as authorities limit the number of people going out of their homes. Recreational marijuana isn’t allowed, and residents simply need to rely on cultivating the plant to get weed supply.

This initial order was announced by Mayor Muriel Bowser on April 14, and expires on August 12, or once the public health emergency order is lifted. However, mid-May, Bowser already lifted the stay-at-home order, which means non-essential retails can open for curbside pickup.

Scheduled marijuana delivery services are the thing these days, to avoid going out. Here are some of the best-scheduled weed delivery services in DC.

• Ghouse

One of the best weed delivery services in DC is Ghouse, offering high-quality marijuana for a minimum order of $75. The brand offers curbside pickup and private meetup, within a 3-mile radius of Winconsin Avenue.

Choose from sativa, hybrid, and Indica, as freebies from buying stickers, baseball cards, lighter, bags, shirts, edibles, and cartridges. The most affordable item to buy is a sticker, which costs $35, and customers can get a free eight of weed. For a full ounce, purchase either a bag or shirt, which costs $200.

Call Ghouse at (202)-845-9928 to place an order and schedule a private meet-up. All items are subject to availability.

• Jungle Girls Delivery

Want to buy art with weed as a freebie? Check out Jungle Girls Delivery for weed inspired artworks for sale. The brand offers rush delivery within DC, with pickup schedules 10:30 AM, 12noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM. All pickups are by appointment or schedule due to the pandemic.

Some of the products available to purchase are smoke essentials, flower-inspired art, digital art for download, edibles, concentrates, and munchies or snacks. The minimum order size is $40, which is totally affordable. Jungle Girls Delivery also sells infused snacks like cookies, chocolate bars, cannabis capsules, and brownies.

• Better Bud Bureau

Get your hands on some of the organic, pesticide-free marijuana products and merch from Better Bud Bureau. From stickers, logos, sanitizer, and edibles, customers can choose from a wide array of freebies. There are CBD and THC products to get, from mist, brownies, microdose cubes, and sour gummies.

All delivery services are limited and by appointment or schedule only. Contact Better Bud Bureau at (202)-891-1547 to place orders and schedule a delivery.

Conclusion

Buying recreational marijuana in DC is easy, even at the time of the pandemic. Many retail establishments offer by appointment or schedule delivery to attend to customers’ orders and requests. Individuals who possess a medical marijuana card can easily buy marijuana products, from THC, CBD-infused products, and marijuana strains.

Contact the weed delivery providers today to place orders and get your weed supply.

Is Weed Legal in Massachusetts?

Curious about the current marijuana landscape in Massachusetts? Today, with more public support for marijuana law reform than ever, it’s normal to find yourself interested in which states have already legalized the use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes.

Whether you’re eyeing to move into the famed Bay State soon or is set to spend a brief vacation there for a week or two, knowing where Massachusetts stands in relation to marijuana can help you know what you can and what you can’t do once you get there.

To help you prepare in advance, here is a comprehensive discussion on the current state of marijuana in Massachusetts. Find out whether cannabis has been declared legal in the state and learn about the different laws and policies surrounding the drug in the state by reading this guide below.

Marijuana in America: Where Does Massachusetts Stand in the Cannabis Poll?

In less than two decades, the world has witnessed how marijuana’s position evolved from a stigmatized gateway drug to a substance blessed with tons of medicinal promises.

If we were to look back, California became the first domino to fall in 1996 after legalizing medical marijuana, creating a ripple that has pushed many other states to follow the same arrangement. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to vote for the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes, marking yet another key milestone in the U.S. marijuana legalization.

Today, it’s not surprising that a total of 11 states, plus D.C., have now legalized both recreational and medical use of cannabis. Massachusetts. is one of these 11 marijuana havens.

Recreational Marijuana in Massachusetts – Is It Legal?

As mentioned earlier, Massachusetts is one of the 11 U.S. states to have legalized the use of recreational cannabis. Specifically, this means that anyone who is 21 years of age and older can buy and use marijuana for a specified amount.

Similar to all other states, the story of how Massachusetts embraced cannabis is a long and complex one. In 2008, the state voted to decriminalize cannabis, marking the first significant event that made Massachusetts closer to becoming a marijuana haven for patients and enthusiasts. Specifically, at the time, the use and purchase of the drug remained illegal, however, anyone who is to be caught doing the act will face only civil fines instead of criminal charges.

About four years since the decriminalization, medical marijuana in the state had been approved. And, finally, in 2016, Massachusetts voters passed Question 4, which legalized the use of cannabis for recreational purposes in the state.

Specifics of the Law: Exploring Recreational Marijuana in Massachusetts

Under Massachusetts' recreational cannabis laws, anyone who is 21 years of age or older is allowed to possess and carry specific amounts of marijuana. In particular, he or she can have up to one ounce of marijuana or 5 grams of concentrate outside of their residence and up to ten ounces of marijuana inside their residence.

Additionally, adults are also allowed to possess and cultivate up to 6 marijuana plants, with a maximum of 12 per household.

What Can’t You Do: Limitations of Massachusetts’ Recreational Cannabis Laws

Of course, similar in the case of all other states to have legalized recreational marijuana, Massachusetts’ existing cannabis laws still come with a few limitations.

Among these include:

• People who are to be caught “operating, navigating, or being in actual physical control” of any transport vehicle while under the influence of a marijuana product will still face penalties.

• Transfer of marijuana, marijuana products, or marijuana accessories to people under 21 years of age is illegal.

• Manufacturing marijuana or hemp products by means of any liquid or gas with a flashpoint below 100 degrees Fahrenheit is prohibited (except when done pursuant to a marijuana product manufacturer license issued by the commission).

• Property owners and local government agencies can still prohibit or regulate the possession or consumption of marijuana within a building, subdivision, or facility.

• Employers can still enact and enforce workplace policies restricting the consumption of marijuana to their employees.

• Anyone can still face civil, criminal, or other penalties if their use of marijuana resulted in negligence or professional malpractice.

• While medical and recreational cannabis are both legal in Massachusetts, it is still illegal to consume the drug in public.

Medical Marijuana in Massachusetts – Is It Legal?

Even before recreational use has been declared legal in Massachusetts, medical use of the drug has already been approved, thanks to the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, also known as Question 3, which was passed in 2012.

Under the said measure, patients who are suffering from specific serious illnesses are allowed to use cannabis for medical purposes in the state.

Who is Eligible for the State’s Medical Marijuana Program?

As per required by the state laws, medical marijuana program is limited to those who reside in Massachusetts and are suffering from a specified debilitating medical condition.

Specifically, he or she must you must experience a debilitating medical condition as determined by the Commonwealth. Among these include:

• Cancer

• Glaucoma

• HIV/AIDS

• Hepatitis C

• Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)

• Crohn’s disease

• Parkinson’s disease

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Or other debilitating conditions as determined in writing by a patient’s certified physician.

How to Apply for the State’s Medical Marijuana Program?

To apply for Massachusetts’ Medical Marijuana Program, interested individuals must follow the steps below:

Step 1: Determine whether they are eligible to apply.

Step 2: If they qualify for the program, the next step is to get a certification from a certified physician recommending the use of medical marijuana. If the health care provider approved, he or she will provide the patient with a PIN number to register with the Program.

Step 3: After getting the PIN, the patient must now register online via the Medical Use of Marijuana Program Online System to ask for a medical marijuana card. During the application, they will be asked to provide the PIN number provided by their health care provider.

Step 4: To complete the application, applicants must upload the required documents (a valid ID and current photograph of the applicant, along with other needed files).

Step 5: Pay the $50 application fee.

Step 6: Submit their applications and wait for the approval.

Step 7: If they’ve been approved, applicants will receive a temporary printable version of their Massachusetts medical marijuana card, which they can use to purchase marijuana products at dispensaries.

Step 8: The official Medical Marijuana Card will arrive by mail when it is ready.

What Can’t You Do: Limitations of Massachusetts’ Medical Cannabis Laws

To date, under Massachusetts’ medical cannabis laws, registered patients are only allowed to purchase up to a 60-day supply of up to 10 ounces from a dispensary with each prescription. They may, however, be allowed to buy more if a qualified health care provider determines that their condition warrants higher doses.

Some Notes to Remember

Generally, although medical and recreational marijuana are both declared legal in Massachusetts, exporting the drug from the state towards another will still subject a person to a felony crime at the federal level, as marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

Similarly, a person can still be arrested for possession of cannabis when in another state that hasn’t legalized possession of cannabis – regardless if that person is a registered medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts.

The Bottom Line

Is the current marijuana landscape in Massachusetts a lot clearer to you now? Whether you’re a cannabis enthusiast, a potential medical marijuana patient, or just a curious culture vulture, learning the ins and outs of Massachusetts marijuana laws can benefit you greatly.

To know more, feel free to visit Massachusetts official state site and look for more info regarding the current status of marijuana and the laws surrounding the drug to date.