Becoming a Medical Marijuana Patient in Maryland

David Bowman

New Member
Becoming a Patient Under HB 881
Rules on how to obtain a physician's written recommendation and how to apply to the Commission for a patient ID card are currently being drafted by the Commission.

Age Limits
HB 881 allows for both adults and minors to become patients enrolled with the Commission. Patients under 18 years of age must have a caregiver in order to register, and only their caregiver may obtain and administer their medicine.

Limitations and Protections under the Initiative
Patients and caregivers are exempt from arrest and prosecution for conduct allowed under the law, such as purchasing and possessing medical marijuana acquired from a state-licensed dispensary.

Possession, Growing, and Consumption Limitations
Maryland's medical marijuana law only protects patients who possess less than one ounce of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. No additional provisions are given concerning the growing or consumption of marijuana for medical reasons.Patients and caregivers may obtain, possess, and administer medical marijuana acquired from a licensed dispensary under the law. Patients and caregivers are not allowed to cultivate medical marijuana for the patient. The law does not impose a specific possession limit, leaving it up to the Commission to determine the possession limits for patients in the state. The only parties that may cultivation medical marijuana are those licensed by the Commission to grow medical marijuana for state-licensed dispensaries.

Access to Medical Marijuana
No provision is made in Maryland's medical marijuana law for accessibility of medical marijuana to patients. This includes the absence of any mention of growing/dispensing collectives and cooperatives.

Caregivers
Caregivers were added to the affirmative defense in 2013 with the passage of HB 180.

Housing/Employment/Child Custody/Organ Transplants Discrimination Protection
Maryland's medical marijuana law does not include civil discrimination protection in the areas of housing, employment, child custody, and organ transplants.

Reciprocity
Maryland Residents: Maryland currently has no reciprocity agreements with other states to honor Maryland's medical marijuana patients. In states with no medical marijuana program, marijuana use, regardless of a doctor's recommendation, is illegal. Medical marijuana patients may be arrested and charged with civil or criminal offenses in those states.

Source: ASA: Becoming a Patient in Maryland
 
This is outdated as it was passed more than 18 months ago. The new legislation describes in detail how to get a doctor to recommend a patient, if you need a card, who is going to be selling mmj. I'll find it and post under this thread.
 
Look here for a doctor for a card: First Maryland medical marijuana clinic open in Annapolis - Capital Gazette
 
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