Guides
15 plain-language guides on buying and using cannabis legally in Maryland, grouped by what you are trying to do. Each shows when it was last updated and lists its sources.
Getting started
Your first visit and what to buy.
- Your first dispensary visit: what actually happensStep by step: ID check, what to say, how to pay, how much to buy, and why you should not open your product in the parking lot.
- Which product should you buy first?Flower, pre-roll, vape, edible, drink, tincture, or concentrate: how each one compares on speed, length, cost, and how hard it is to get right.
- Does indica vs. sativa actually matter?Genetic studies find indica and sativa cannabis are not reliably different. What to look at instead, and how to describe what you want.
- How many mg of edible should you take?Maryland caps edibles at 10 mg THC per serving and 100 mg per package. How dosing, timing, and the second-gummy mistake actually work.
Prices, tax and paying
What it costs and how to pay.
- How much does weed cost in Maryland?Maryland's 12% cannabis tax with a worked example, the medical exemption, typical shelf prices, and how shop discounts work.
- Do Maryland dispensaries take credit cards?Why most Maryland dispensaries can't take credit cards, what works instead, and what a cashless ATM actually does to your total.
Medical card
Who needs one and how to get it.
- Do you still need a medical card in Maryland?At 21+ you don't need a card to shop in Maryland. If you qualify, a medical card still gets you no 12% cannabis tax and access from 18.
- How to get a Maryland medical cannabis cardRegister free on Maryland OneStop, get certified by a provider, then buy with your patient ID number. What qualifies, what it costs, and how long it lasts.
Rules and safety
What the law allows, and where.
- Maryland cannabis laws, in plain termsAdult-use cannabis has been legal in Maryland since July 1, 2023. How much you can hold, where you can use it, what the fines are, and what's still illegal.
- Where you can and can’t smoke cannabis in MarylandCannabis is legal in Maryland, but where you can smoke it is limited. Public places, cars, hotels and federal land each have different rules.
- Cannabis and driving in MarylandDriving impaired by cannabis is illegal in Maryland with no set THC limit. How DUI law works, the odor rule, and how to plan a safe ride home.
- Growing cannabis at home in MarylandMaryland's home-grow rules: two plants per household, out of public view, who can grow, and what landlords can still ban.
- Is delta-8 or THCA flower legal in Maryland?Maryland's line for hemp THC, the 2025 court ruling on delta-8, why THCA flower isn't a way around it, and how to report illegal sales.
Visiting Maryland
For people travelling in.
- Buying cannabis in Maryland as an out-of-state visitorVisitors 21+ can buy cannabis in Maryland with a passport or any state driver's license. Where you can use it, and why you can't take it home.
- Cannabis in Ocean City, MarylandCannabis is legal to buy in Ocean City at 21+, but the beach and Boardwalk still count as public places, with fines up to $150.