The Process For Obtaining Maryland Medical Marijuana Card

How much does it cost to get a medical marijuana evaluation in Maryland?

It costs only ${{statesPrices.MD}} to get a medical marijuana evaluation with NuggMD in Maryland. Even better, with NuggMD, you'll never be charged if you don't qualify for cannabis treatment.

Does NuggMD Maryland have a refund policy?

You will not be charged for your evaluation if you're not approved for medical marijuana treatment. We provide a full refund within 30 days for Maryland residents if their certification isn't completed with the MMCC. Because your certification is immediately valid once entered into the MMCC's online registry, a refund will no longer be available once your doctor uploads it.

If you need a refund before your certification is completed, please email support@nuggmd.com with the subject line "Refund Request" and a brief description of your issue. We want to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your purchase being that you, the customer, are the most important thing to us. Once you're refunded, you'll have to receive a new evaluation if you change your mind and wish to continue the certification process with the state. Once a refund has been initiated, please allow for 3-5 business days for the funds to transfer back to the card you used for the transaction. If any issues arise, please feel free to reach back out for further assistance.

Does a Maryland MMJ license protect medical patients from federal prosecution?

As you may already know, cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance. This means any possession and use is prohibited by federal law. Unfortunately, Maryland state law cannot prevent state-legal marijuana users from being federally prosecuted for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act. If they choose to do so, The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has the authority and ability to prosecute Maryland MMJ patients. Even so, this doesn't mean that such prosecution is likely. In fact, legislation for the federal government budget, first passed in 2014, explicitly forbids the DOJ from spending federal budget money to prosecute entities that comply with their state's medical marijuana program.

Do Maryland patients need to pay $50 for their MMJ IDs?

After the 1st of January 2019, every new Maryland MMJ patient will need to pay $50 to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission for their MMJ ID. This $50 must be paid during new patient registration.

Maryland MMJ IDs are valid for three years.

Can Maryland MMJ patients legally own firearms?

Maryland residents shouldn't both own firearms and have MMJ IDs. Legal gun owners shouldn't use any Federally controlled substance. Doing so violates the Federal Gun Control Act, which states that an "unlawful user" of a Scheduled substance cannot be considered a law-abiding gun-owner. Since cannabis is regarded as a Schedule I substance, Maryland MMJ patients are still seen as "unlawful users."

While medical patient info is technically confidential, health information subject to HIPAA protections, MMJ patient status is still accessible by the Maryland State Police. In the event of a Maryland individual seeking to buy a firearm, Maryland law enforcement will ask if the individual is an MMJ patient. By law, Maryland residents must answer these queries to the police truthfully. Otherwise, they are violating federal law and could be subject to severe criminal penalties. In those cases in which a Maryland resident discloses that they are, in fact, an MMJ patient in the state, the police will block any lawful gun transaction for that individual.

What is a “bona fide provider-patient relationship”?

​Like many other states with medical marijuana programs, Maryland patients must first receive a medical evaluation by a licensed provider. In Maryland, there must exist a "bona fide provider-patient relationship" for this to occur. A bona fide relationship is a medical treatment/counseling relationship between a medical provider and a patient. In this relationship, the provider and patient:

What medical conditions or diseases qualify for MMJ treatments in the Maryland MMJ program?

If a Maryland resident suffers from one of the following chronic/debilitating medical conditions, they may be issued an MMJ certification:

Where can Maryland MMJ patients purchase medicinal cannabis?

The only legal place to obtain MMJ in Maryland is from a licensed dispensary in the state.

How much marijuana is a patient allowed to purchase in one day?

When a Maryland patient first receives their MMJ certification, the practitioner will indicate how much cannabis the patient should use. Patients are allowed to purchase a rolling 30 day supply according to this stated amount.

What do I do if I lose my patient ID or it is damaged?

If your patient ID is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you need to log into the online MMCC platform and make a report. The MMCC will send you a replacement card for a $100 fee.

Can Maryland MMJ patients legally travel with their medicinal cannabis?

Maryland allows its MMJ patients to travel with cannabis in their possession anywhere throughout the state. They cannot, however, travel to any federal property in Maryland. While they are free to travel anywhere within state lines, it's a bad idea to take cannabis over state lines because this would subject the traveler to federal drug trafficking laws. Also, NEVER drive under the influence or with an open container in your car.

Can Maryland patients have more than one designated caregiver?

​Yes, they can. Maryland MMJ patients are allowed to designate no more than two caregivers. Caregivers can take care of no more than five patients.

What's the minimum age to become a caregiver in Maryland?

​The minimum age for a Maryland Caregiver is 21 years old.

Are Maryland MMJ patients authorized to cultivate their own marijuana? Can caregivers grow cannabis?

At the moment, Maryland doesn't allow cultivation by patients or caregivers.

Can children become MMJ patients in Maryland?

​Yes, they can. If a Maryland child meets the medical criteria for qualifying conditions, they can legally be issued an MMJ certification. MMJ patients who are minors must designate their parent or guardian as a caregiver.

What should a patient do if their address changes?

Maryland patients must notify the MMCC within a 3-day window if their address changes.

What if a patient wants to visit a different dispensary in the state?

Maryland patients are allowed to purchase medical marijuana from the dispensary of their choice. All licensed dispensaries are connected with the MMCC and can validate the certifications of all patients. As a result, if a Maryland patient wants to visit a different dispensary, they can simply do so without any prior action required.

What do Maryland patients need to do if they are stopped by law enforcement?

Technically, Maryland patients don't need to inform law enforcement that they possess cannabis, nor do they need to consent to any searches. If Maryland law enforcement does find medicinal cannabis, patients should have their patient IDs at the ready.

If I have a medical marijuana license from another state, can I purchase cannabis from Maryland dispensaries?

Currently, Maryland does not legally recognize MMJ IDs from any other state.

What happens if I work at a company that performs drug tests? Can my employer request a marijuana drug test if I am a legal MMJ patient in Maryland? Can I face disciplinary action if I fail?

Even if you are a legal MMJ patient, there is nothing in Maryland law that prohibits an employer from performing drug tests for cannabis use. It is also up to their discretion to take any disciplinary actions based on the results, MMJ patient or otherwise.

Does the medical provider have to be registered as a certifying provider before the patient's visit to issue a certification for the patient?

Yes, they must be certified with the MMCC to issue MMJ certifications.

Can I renew my medical marijuana card with NuggMD if I used a different practitioner last year?

Absolutely. You have the right to see whatever practitioner you choose to renew your medical marijuana certification, so long as they're licensed in the state and qualified to certify patients for cannabis use. All NuggMD practitioners are fully licensed in the state for which they provide evaluations and have obtained all state required education and certifications to recommend cannabis.