How to get a medical card in Maryland
Maryland flips the usual order — you register first, then get certified:
- Register on the OneStop portal. Create an account with the Maryland Cannabis Administration, submit the application, and upload proof of identity and Maryland residency plus a passport-style photo. You'll receive an MCA Patient ID number. There's no registration fee.
- Get certified by an MCA provider. Using your Patient ID, a registered Maryland provider — a physician, nurse practitioner, PA, podiatrist, dentist, or nurse-midwife — certifies your qualifying condition. This can be done by telehealth.
- Get your ID and shop. Once certified, print your temporary ID and buy at a licensed dispensary (within 120 days). You can print a paper ID free, or order a physical card for $25. The MCA usually processes applications in 1–2 business days.
Adults 18+ apply directly; minors register through a parent or guardian caregiver. Since adult use is legal at 21+, see medical vs. recreational to weigh the benefits — which in Maryland are meaningful.
Qualifying conditions in Maryland
Maryland doesn't use a strict closed list. The named conditions are:
- Severe or chronic pain
- PTSD
- Glaucoma
- Seizures (including epilepsy)
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms (including multiple sclerosis)
- Severe nausea
- Cachexia, anorexia, and wasting syndrome (often from cancer or its treatment)
Crucially, the law also covers any other chronic medical condition that is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective. That open clause gives providers discretion, so conditions such as anxiety can qualify when they're severe and treatment-resistant. See our qualifying conditions overview for how this open standard compares to fixed-list states.
Cost breakdown
Maryland is inexpensive to join, and the tax break is the real win:
- State fee — $0 to register. You can print a paper ID at no charge. An official physical card is an optional $25, and that fee is waived for minors, hospice patients, and people enrolled in Maryland Medicaid or the VA Maryland Health Care System.
- Provider certification — typically $100–$250. Set by the provider, not the state; telehealth visits often run lower. Insurance doesn't cover it.
- Tax savings. Medical patients pay no sales tax on cannabis, while adult-use buyers pay 12% (raised from 9% in July 2025). For regular buyers, that exemption more than covers the certification cost. See our cost of an MMJ card guide.
Possession & purchase limits
Medical patients get larger allowances than adult-use buyers:
- Up to 120 grams (about 4 ounces) of flower per 30-day period, plus up to 36 grams of THC in concentrated products, as recommended by your provider.
- Home cultivation — up to 4 plants per household for medical patients, versus 2 plants for adult-use households. Plants must be kept secure and out of public view.
See possession limits by state for the full comparison.
Renewal rules
Maryland runs two separate clocks, and this is the part patients most often miss:
- Your patient ID is valid for six years — the longest registration period of any state.
- But your provider certification must be renewed every year. The annual certification (telehealth is fine) is what keeps your medical-tier access active. If it lapses, you immediately revert to the 12% adult-use tax and the 2-plant limit, and patients under 21 lose dispensary access until it's renewed. The MCA doesn't send reminders, so track the annual date yourself. See the renewal process for details.
Official source: Maryland Cannabis Administration — Patients (Md. Code, Health-General §13-3301; Cannabis Reform Act). This page is educational and is not medical or legal advice — confirm current rules with the MCA before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a medical card if recreational is legal in Maryland? +
Not to buy, if you're 21 or older. But medical patients pay no sales tax (versus 12% for adult-use), can possess up to 120 grams per 30 days, grow 4 plants instead of 2, and qualify at 18. Since registration is free, the certification visit is the only real cost — and the tax break usually covers it.
Can I get a Maryland medical card by telehealth? +
Yes. A Maryland-registered provider can certify you over a telehealth visit, and the certification is filed electronically with the MCA — it's just as valid as an in-person visit. You register on the OneStop portal first, then get certified.
How much does a Maryland medical card cost? +
Registration is free — you can print a paper ID at no charge — and an optional physical card is $25 (waived for Medicaid, VA, minors, and hospice patients). The provider certification is separate, typically $100–$250, and isn't covered by insurance.
What conditions qualify in Maryland? +
Named conditions include severe or chronic pain, PTSD, glaucoma, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, severe nausea, cachexia, anorexia, and wasting syndrome. Maryland also covers any other severe chronic condition that hasn't responded to other treatments, so a provider can certify conditions like anxiety at their discretion.
How long is a Maryland medical card valid? +
Your patient ID is valid for six years — the longest of any state — but your provider certification must be renewed every year to keep medical-tier access. If the annual certification lapses, you revert to the 12% adult-use tax and 2-plant limit, and patients under 21 lose access until it's renewed.
Can I grow my own, or use an out-of-state card in Maryland? +
Medical patients may grow up to 4 plants per household, compared with 2 for adult-use households, in a secure, private space. Maryland does not recognize out-of-state medical cards, so visiting patients can't buy as medical patients — though those 21+ can buy recreationally.