Is marijuana legal in Maryland?
Yes. As of 2026, marijuana (weed) is legal in Maryland for adults 21 and older, who can buy it at licensed dispensaries and grow up to two plants at home. Medical cannabis is also legal.
Status checked November 4, 2026
Contents
Marijuana laws in Maryland
Maryland voters approved adult-use cannabis in the 2022 general election, and sales to adults 21 and older began July 1, 2023. The Cannabis Reform Act, signed May 3, 2023, created the licensing framework. The Maryland Cannabis Administration regulates medical and adult-use cannabis. Medical cannabis remains available to registered patients 18 and older.
Adults 21 and older may possess a “personal use amount”: up to 1.5 ounces of usable cannabis, 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, 750 milligrams of THC in cannabis products, or two or fewer plants. A person 21 or older may cultivate up to two plants at home, out of public view, with a household maximum of two plants. Registered medical patients may cultivate two additional plants, not to exceed four plants in a residence. Landlords may prohibit growing.
Licensed dispensaries sell to adults 21 and older who show a government photo ID, up to the personal use amount. There is no residency requirement for adult-use purchases.
Smoking cannabis or hemp is prohibited in public places. Using cannabis while driving, or driving impaired, is illegal. Employers may keep workplace policies. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, apart from state-licensed medical marijuana, which moved to Schedule III in April 2026.
Baltimore, MD – July 26, 2023: Culta dispensary on Key Highway at the Inner Harbor Photo: Adobe Stock (editorial use only).
What the law says
Legal
- an amount of usable cannabis that does not exceed 1.5 ounces
- an amount of concentrated cannabis that does not exceed 12 grams
- an amount of cannabis products containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol that does not exceed 750 milligrams
- two or fewer cannabis plants
Not legal
- A finding of guilt under this section involving the use or possession of the personal use amount of cannabis by a person under the age of 21 years is a civil offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $100.
- A finding of guilt under this section involving the use or possession of the civil use amount of cannabis is a civil offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $250.
- a person whose violation of this section involves the use or possession of cannabis is guilty of a misdemeanor of possession of cannabis and is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both
Quoted from Maryland Criminal Law §5-101.
How old do you have to be to use marijuana in Maryland?
You have to be 21 to buy weed in Maryland for adult use. Licensed dispensaries may sell only to customers who show a government-issued photo ID proving they are 21 or older. Medical patients 18 and older can register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration and buy through the medical program. People under 21 may not possess or use non-medical cannabis. Possession of a personal use amount by someone under 21 is a civil offense with a fine of up to $100.
How much marijuana can you have in Maryland?
Adults 21 and older in Maryland can have up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of concentrate, or cannabis products with up to 750 milligrams of THC. That is the personal use amount, and it also includes two or fewer plants. The same cap applies when you buy at a dispensary. At home, adults may cultivate up to two plants per household, out of public view. Possessing more than 1.5 ounces and up to 2.5 ounces is a civil use amount with a fine of up to $250. More than that can be a misdemeanor.
Where can you buy marijuana in Maryland?
You can buy weed in Maryland only at licensed dispensaries regulated by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adults 21 and older need a government-issued photo ID. You can buy up to the personal use amount: 1.5 ounces of flower, 12 grams of concentrate, or 750 milligrams of THC in products. Medical patients buy through the medical program, which keeps patient-only hours or service lines. There is no residency requirement for adult-use purchases. Buying from an unlicensed seller is not legal.
Can you grow marijuana at home in Maryland?
Yes, with tight limits. A person 21 or older in Maryland can grow up to two cannabis plants at home, out of public view, and a household may have no more than two plants no matter how many adults live there. Registered medical patients can grow two additional plants, for a total of four, and a residence may not have more than four. People under 21 cannot grow plants. Landlords and property owners can prohibit growing on their property.
Where can you use marijuana in Maryland?
You can smoke weed in Maryland in private homes and on private property, unless the owner or landlord says no. Smoking cannabis or hemp is prohibited in any public place, including parks, streets, bars, restaurants, public transportation and indoor workplaces. You also may not possess cannabis on federal property. Using cannabis while driving, including as a passenger, is illegal.
How do you get a medical marijuana card in Maryland?
To get a medical marijuana card in Maryland, you must be at least 18, or have a caregiver if you are younger, and register with the Maryland Cannabis Administration after a certifying provider identifies a qualifying condition. The provider writes a certification, and then you complete the state's patient registration. Registered patients can buy medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries and may grow two extra plants at home. Maryland does not honor other states' medical cards for medical-program purchases.
Can visitors buy or use marijuana in Maryland?
Yes. Out-of-state visitors can buy marijuana in Maryland if they are 21 or older and show a government-issued photo ID at a licensed dispensary. There is no residency requirement for adult-use sales. Maryland does not give medical-program reciprocity, so a visitor cannot buy under medical rules with another state's card, but a visitor who is 21 can still buy adult-use cannabis. Taking cannabis out of Maryland across state lines is illegal under federal law.
What are the rules on driving and marijuana in Maryland?
No, you can't drive high in Maryland. Using cannabis while driving, by a driver or a passenger, and impaired driving are illegal. Officers can make a cannabis DUI arrest based on observed impairment, including standard field sobriety tests. Maryland's adult-use FAQ does not describe a set THC blood limit. Having cannabis in the car within the personal use amount is not a defense to impaired driving.
Can an employer in Maryland fire you for using marijuana?
Yes, you can get fired for using marijuana in Maryland. The Cannabis Reform Act does not create job protection for adult-use or medical patients, and it does not stop employers from using drug tests or workplace policies on cannabis use or impairment. Federal rules, including for commercial drivers, still apply. Employers can prohibit possession, use and impairment at work.
What are the penalties for breaking marijuana laws in Maryland?
In Maryland, adults 21 and older who stay within the personal use amount are not committing a possession crime. A civil use amount, more than 1.5 ounces and up to 2.5 ounces of flower, is a civil offense with a fine of up to $250. Possessing more than that can be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Under-21 possession of a personal use amount is a civil offense with a fine of up to $100. Selling without a license is a crime.
Are CBD, hemp and delta-8 products legal in Maryland?
CBD that is not intoxicating can be sold as a hemp product in Maryland. Consumable and inhalable intoxicating hemp products, including delta-8 and similar cannabinoids, are regulated with other cannabis products. THCA flower and other intoxicating hemp products are not a separate legal loophole around the licensed cannabis market. Smoking hemp in public is also banned. Separately, a stricter federal hemp definition, with a total-THC standard that counts THCA and a 0.4 mg-per-container cap, takes effect December 11, 2026.
Does federal law still apply in Maryland?
Yes. Federal law still applies in Maryland. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, with one exception: since April 28, 2026, marijuana covered by a state medical marijuana license and FDA-approved marijuana products are in Schedule III. A broader federal rescheduling proceeding was stayed on September 29, 2026, and has no decision date. State law does not change federal rules on federal land, on carrying marijuana across state lines, or on federally required drug testing, such as for DOT-regulated jobs.
Has the law in Maryland changed recently, or is it about to?
Yes. Maryland's adult-use market has been operating since July 1, 2023, after voters approved legalization in 2022 and the Cannabis Reform Act took effect on May 3, 2023. The personal use amount, two-plant home-grow limit and public smoking ban remain the core rules in 2026. New federal hemp limits take effect November 12 and December 11, 2026.
Legislation
Sources (6)
- Maryland Criminal Law §5-101 (personal use amount and civil use amount) mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland Criminal Law §5-601 (possession) mgaleg.maryland.gov
- Maryland Cannabis Administration, Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs cannabis.maryland.gov
- dea.gov
- federalregister.gov
- congress.gov
General information, not legal advice. Laws change often, so check with the state's cannabis agency before relying on this.
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