No, you do not have to be a Maryland resident to buy recreational weed. Any adult 21 or older with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID can walk into a licensed Maryland dispensary and purchase cannabis, whether they live in Baltimore or are visiting from another state. The Maryland Cannabis Administration lists only age and ID as the requirements at the point of sale; residency is not among them.1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
What ID Dispensaries Will Accept
Your out-of-state driver’s license is fine. Staff check ID before every transaction, with no exceptions, and the accepted forms are:1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
- A driver’s license from any state
- A state-issued ID card
- A U.S. or foreign passport or passport card
- A military ID
- A tribal card
If the ID is expired, you will be turned away.
How Much You Can Buy and Carry
Maryland sets the same personal-use ceiling for residents and visitors. In a single transaction and while in possession, you can have up to:1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
- 1.5 ounces of flower, including pre-rolls
- 12 grams of concentrates (vapes, wax, shatter, resin)
- 750 milligrams of total THC in infused products (edibles, tinctures, capsules, beverages)
You can mix categories in one purchase as long as the combined total stays within the equivalent personal-use amount.
Going over matters. Carrying between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces is a civil violation with a maximum fine of $250. Above 2.5 ounces becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and up to six months in jail.2Maryland Courts. Cannabis Reform Supplement A criminal charge in a state you don’t live in is a particularly bad souvenir.
Paying at the Register
Maryland adds a 9% sales and use tax to all adult-use cannabis purchases, the same rate the state applies to alcohol.3Comptroller of Maryland. Adult Use Cannabis Information Most dispensaries bake the tax into the sticker price, but your receipt will show it broken out.
Bring cash. Because cannabis remains federally illegal, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover do not permit cannabis transactions on their debit or credit cards, and most Maryland dispensaries run on cash. Some accept cannabis-specific payment apps, and many keep an ATM on-site. If you are driving in from out of state, confirm payment options with the dispensary before you go.
Where You Can Legally Use It
Consumption is restricted to private property. You can use cannabis in a private home or on private property where the owner has given permission, and that is essentially the full list of legal options.1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
Smoking or vaping cannabis in any indoor public space is prohibited under Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act, which was amended in 2024 to explicitly cover cannabis and hemp products. The ban applies to restaurants, bars, workplaces, public transit, and any indoor area open to the public.4Maryland General Assembly. Senate Bill 244 Chapter 755 – Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment Outdoor public spaces, including parks, streets, and sidewalks, are also off-limits.1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
Hotels have a narrow exemption from the Clean Indoor Air Act: up to 25% of a hotel’s rooms may be designated as smoking rooms.4Maryland General Assembly. Senate Bill 244 Chapter 755 – Clean Indoor Air Act Amendment That covers smoking generally, but individual hotels set their own policies and many prohibit cannabis regardless. Ask the hotel directly before assuming a smoking room allows it. Owners and property managers of short-term rentals can prohibit cannabis use entirely on their properties, and many do.1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
Don’t Take It Across State Lines
This is the single most important rule for visitors. Transporting cannabis out of Maryland is a federal crime, even if your destination state also allows recreational cannabis. Federal law prohibits moving any amount of marijuana across state lines, and buying it legally in Maryland does not protect you once you cross into Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, or anywhere else. The same prohibition applies to shipping or mailing it. Use what you buy here while you are here.
Driving After Using
Maryland treats cannabis-impaired driving the same way it treats drunk driving. A first offense for driving under the influence of a controlled substance carries up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,200. A second offense within five years rises to up to two years in jail and a $2,400 fine. Driving with a minor in the car pushes a first offense to up to two years and a $2,000 fine.5Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Article 21-902
The Maryland Cannabis Administration recommends waiting at least six hours after using cannabis before driving, and longer after edibles, whose effects can last up to 12 hours.6Maryland Cannabis Administration. Drugged Driving A medical card does not exempt anyone from a DUI.
One More Boundary: Federal Property
National parks, military bases, federal courthouses, and other federal land in Maryland follow federal law, not state law. Possessing cannabis on any of them is illegal regardless of amount.7National Park Service. Marijuana and Other Substances Maryland has a lot of federal land, including portions of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Assateague Island, and Fort McHenry, so this matters for visitors building an itinerary around the state’s parks and historic sites. What you bought legally that morning becomes a federal problem the moment you step onto federal ground with it.
Where to Buy
Every legal recreational purchase in Maryland happens at a dispensary licensed by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. Buying from a friend, a pop-up event, or an unlicensed delivery service is illegal and carries penalties. The MCA publishes a current list of licensed dispensaries on its website.8Maryland Cannabis Administration. Industry Licensees and Registrants Check it before you drive to a storefront.