House Bill 881 was approved April 8, 2014, by House vote of 125-11 and by Senate vote of 44-2. The Bill was signed by Governor Martin O’Malley April 14, 2014. Effective June 1, 2016 The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will be tasked with developing regulations for patient registry and identification cards, dispensary licensing, setting fees and possession limits, and more.
The commission will issue yearly request applications from academic medical centers to operate marijuana compassionate-use programs.
- Approved conditions are cachexia, or wasting syndrome
- Anorexia
- Severe or chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
- Other conditions approved by the Commission in the future.
- Patients are allowed to posses a 30-day supply of medical marijuana.
Beginning June 1, 2016, the Commission will issue the number of dispensary licenses to meet the demand for medical marijuana by qualifying patients and caregivers issued identification cards.
Caregiver Laws
A caregiver is not allowed to cultivate medical marijuana for the registered patient. The registered patient and caregiver may only possess and administer medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary. The law does not state any specific limitations on possessing marijuana. It is up to the commission to determine the limitation for the patient’s medicinal use of marijuana in the state.
Dispensary Laws
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in the state of Maryland are prohibited from obtaining marijuana from outside the state. Dispensaries may only purchase from a registered medical marijuana dispensary. They must be located at least 1,000 feet from a private or public school and daycare facilities. Dispensaries must be dispersed geographically throughout the state of Maryland. Medical Marijuana Dispensaries are required to have laboratory testing to determine CBD/THC content, quality, and potency. Dispensaries must be an enclosed and locked facility with required security measures to prevent unauthorized entrance.
Growing Laws
Patients and caregivers are prohibited from growing and cultivating medical marijuana.