Maryland has 101 licensed dispensaries operating across the state, and the number is climbing as new social equity retailers from a 2024 lottery come online. Both adults 21 and older and registered medical patients can buy at licensed dispensaries in Maryland, and most locations hold dual licenses that serve both groups.1Maryland Cannabis Administration. Dispensary Information2Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
Finding and Verifying a Dispensary
The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) runs a Dispensary Locator that lists every licensed location with addresses, and it is the only source you should trust to confirm a shop is legitimate.3Maryland Cannabis Administration. Dispensary Locator The MCA also publishes a separate licensed locations page linked to its Public Data Dashboard, where you can verify a business’s license status directly.4Maryland Cannabis Administration. MCA Licensed Dispensary Locations
Unlicensed shops exist, and they aren’t always obvious. Warning signs include no ID check at the door, products packaged to mimic snack brands like Oreos or Cheetos, cannabis brands from other states on the shelves, and cannabis sold alongside groceries or tobacco in a corner-store setup. A licensed dispensary checks ID every time, sells only regulated products and approved accessories, and will give you its license number if you ask. Unregulated products skip the testing that catches pesticides and heavy metals, so the risk isn’t abstract.
All products sold at licensed dispensaries must pass testing for pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants before reaching shelves.5Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in Maryland Begin July 1
Who Can Buy and What to Bring
If you’re 21 or older, all you need is a valid government-issued photo ID. No medical card, no registration, no doctor’s visit. Walk in, show your ID, and browse.2Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis FAQs
Medical patients go through a three-step process: register as a patient with the MCA, obtain a written certification from an MCA-registered provider confirming cannabis is appropriate for a qualifying condition, and then visit a dispensary with a government-issued photo ID and your patient ID card or number.6Maryland Cannabis Administration. Process to Legally Obtain Medical Cannabis Qualifying conditions include chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, PTSD, glaucoma, and persistent muscle spasms, among others. Patients as young as 18 can register directly, and minors can access medical cannabis through a registered caregiver. The MCA charges $25 for the physical patient ID card, but you don’t strictly need the card at the dispensary if you have your ID number.7Maryland Cannabis Administration. Patients
The biggest practical reason to keep a medical card is tax. Adult-use cannabis is subject to a 9 percent sales and use tax, the same rate Maryland applies to alcohol.8Comptroller of Maryland. Adult Use Cannabis Information Medical cannabis sales are exempt. On a $50 purchase, that’s $4.50 saved every visit.
Purchase and Possession Limits
Maryland caps what adults 21 and older can buy and possess at one time. The personal use amount is:
- Up to 1.5 ounces (42.5 grams) of flower
- Up to 12 grams of concentrates
- Up to 750 milligrams of delta-9 THC in edibles and other THC products
These are combined limits. If you buy the maximum of one product type, you cannot add product from another type in the same transaction, and dispensaries track this and will cut you off at the ceiling.9Maryland Cannabis Administration. Dispensary Guidance Medical patients follow separate allotments set by their certifying provider.
Going over the personal use amount matters. Possessing more than 1.5 ounces but less than 2.5 ounces is a civil offense with a fine. Larger amounts can trigger misdemeanor charges carrying up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Where You Can Legally Use Cannabis
Buying legally doesn’t mean you can consume anywhere. Public consumption, whether smoking, vaping, or eating edibles in a public space, is a civil offense with a fine of up to $250 for a first violation and $500 for repeat offenses.
Using cannabis inside a vehicle is illegal whether you’re driving or riding as a passenger. Maryland does not set a specific blood-THC threshold for impaired driving. Officers rely on observable signs of impairment and field sobriety assessments, with blood testing after an arrest. A cannabis DUI carries the same penalties as an alcohol DUI, including license suspension, fines, and potential jail time. Buying legally from a licensed dispensary is not a defense to an impairment charge.
In practice, your home is the only reliably legal place to consume. Even then, landlords and homeowner associations can prohibit smoking or vaping on their properties, so check your lease.
Growing at Home
Adults 21 and older can grow up to two cannabis plants per residence. That’s a per-household cap, not per person, so two roommates share the same two-plant limit. Plants must be kept out of public view, secured so no one under 21 can access them, and grown on property you own or with the owner’s written permission. Renters should check the lease before planting.
Why the Dispensary Count Keeps Changing
The 101 figure represents the original batch of licensed dispensaries, most of which converted from medical-only to dual medical and adult-use sales when recreational cannabis became legal on July 1, 2023.5Maryland Cannabis Administration. Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in Maryland Begin July 1 The vast majority took that conversion, which is why you rarely need to think about whether a nearby dispensary serves medical or recreational customers.
In March 2024, the MCA held a lottery awarding 174 social equity business licenses, a number larger than the original 101 dispensary licenses. Not all 174 are retail licenses; the program also covers growers and processors. These conditional licensees are still working through real estate, inspections, and capitalization requirements, and some have faced significant delays before opening.10Office of Social Equity. Licensing and Eligibility As they come online, Maryland’s dispensary count will climb well past 101. The Dispensary Locator, last updated in March 2026, is the current roster.3Maryland Cannabis Administration. Dispensary Locator