How to Get a Maryland Medical Marijuana Card
Any Maryland resident whose provider recommends medical cannabis as a treatment option for a qualifying medical condition is eligible to register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) as a patient. Applying for a medical marijuana card in Maryland is relatively straightforward, but you do have to complete all of the steps in order to get approved.
Although Maryland does not stipulate an age requirement for medical marijuana, the process we outline here is for adults. A different process is required for patients under the age of 18. Here is a link to that process.
Qualifications
Medical marijuana is just like any other medication: it is only prescribed to those with medical conditions that the drug is approved to treat. Also, your condition must be diagnosed by a medical doctor, chiropractor, or other medical professional qualified to make the diagnosis. You cannot register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission without such a diagnosis.
If you are plagued by at least one of the following conditions, you are assumed to qualify for medical marijuana to treat your condition:
- Anorexia
- Cachexia
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Seizures
- Severe nausea
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
- Severe pain
- Wasting syndrome
Although this list encompasses currently approved conditions. Please speak to your physician about your condition because it is possible your symptoms can be relieved with medical marijuana.
If you experience anxiety, depression, cancer, insomnia, or migraines, check with your medical provider to see if they believe you may also benefit from medical cannabis.
Personal Information Needed
Gather the information and documents you need for applying online before you begin the process. The state requires that you complete the application once you begin the online process. You cannot save the application when it is in process and finish it at another time.
Your documents must be in an electronic format and available to upload to the application site during your session. Following is a list of the documents and other information required during the application process:
- A valid email address. This should be an email address that is owned by and easily accessible by you. To maintain your privacy, do not use a work-related email or one that you share with another person.
- You’ll need the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- An electronic, valid copy of your government-issued photo identification that contains proof of your residential address in the State of Maryland. For those of you whose identification does not show your current residential address, here is a list of supporting documents that you can supply in electronic format to satisfy this requirement. Please note that you need two items from this list.
Registration & Approval Process
To complete and submit your online application, go to the MMCC website and click on “Create Account” under the first heading entitled “Patients.”
Once you have created an account, you can complete and submit your application. You are not required to submit medical records yet; that will come later in the application process.
Once your application is complete and submitted, check the email you used when applying. The MMCC will send you a verification email. You must click the verification link to verify the account is yours. Your application will not be complete or looked at by the MMCC until you verify your email address.
Waiting to Hear Back from MMCC
Once your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email letting you know whether or not you have been approved. Due to the high volume of applications, MMCC requests that you wait to call or email them until 45 days after submission. Although it is possible to hear back in as little as five days, you may find yourself waiting for the full 45. Check your email regularly.
Physician Referral
After you receive the email with your approval, you will now be registered with MMCC and have a patient ID number. The next step is to visit a physician registered with MMCC to get a valid written certification for the program. You must get the written certification from a MMCC-registered provider.
Here are some resources for finding a registered physician:
After you visit with the approved physician, he or she will submit the paperwork electronically and provide you with the appropriate written certification you need to visit a licensed dispensary near me in Maryland to purchase your medical cannabis. This cost for this is approximately $200 and some doctors offer discounts to veterans.
Your First Dispensary Visit
When you go to a dispensary nearby you like AmediCanna for the first time, bring your state ID, your patient ID number, and the valid written certification provided by the approved physician you visited. Once you are registered, you can visit AmediCanna and other approved state dispensaries to buy your cannabis.
You will need to use your new certification to purchase medical marijuana within 120 days of the date it is issued. If you don’t use it within that time, it will no longer be valid.
You can also purchase an optional patient ID card for $50 from the MMCC, which makes it easier to sign into and buy marijuana at any state dispensary or online from menus like leafly and The Dispensary Near Me.
We look forward to you visiting our medical marijuana dispensary. Take a look at our dispensary menu or visit us at Leafly to peruse in the privacy of your own home.
Non-Resident Certification
If you regularly receive medical treatment in the State of Maryland but live in another state, you are eligible to register as a patient to obtain medical marijuana. However, you are required to provide the name, address, and contact name for the medical facility in Maryland where you receive treatment.
Although there are a few hoops that you are required to jump through to obtain a medical marijuana certificate in Maryland, the process is pretty straightforward, as long as you are diagnosed with one or more of the medical maladies required for approval.