How to Get Approved for Medical Cannabis in Maryland
Today we will discover the steps needed to obtain your Medical Cannabis Certification in the state of Maryland.
Step 1: Gather Your Files and Information
Here you will have 3 options to register: Register as an Adult, Register as a Minor, or Register as a Caregiver.
Registering as an Adult Patient - What You Will Need:
1. A valid, accessible email account.
2. Full 9-digit Social Security Number
3. An electronic copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
4. Proof that applicant lives in Maryland
5. $50 Application Fee
6. An electronic copy of a clear photograph taken within the last six (6) months
(All documents must be dated within the past 90 days)
What are the accepted forms of ID?
• Driver’s license
• State issued photo Identification card
• Military ID (both front and back)
• US Passport
(If your ID doesn’t state your current MD address, visit here for extra document information you will need.)
Registering as a minor Patient - What You Will Need:
Minor patients are required to have at least one caregiver assigned to their accounts at all times, and this caregiver must be registered first before the minor patient.
Only parents or legal guardians 21 years of age and older are eligible to serve as caregivers for minor patients.
1. Caregiver's valid US government-issued photo ID
2. Clear, recent photo of minor patient
3. Proof of caregiver's relationship to patient (birth or adoption certificate or court order)
4. Notarized Minor Patient Form
5. Also required: the last four digits of the patient's Social Security Number, as well as the Caregiver's ID Number.
Registering as a Caregiver - What You Will Need:
1. Be a patient of legal guardian if the patient is a minor
2. Be at least 21 years of age at the time of registration
3. Register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
4. Receive approval from the Commission
5. Purchase an ID card from the Commission for a fee of $50.
Step 2: Register with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission
Complete and submit an online application. Visit the MMCC registry (OneStop Portal) and click Register in the top right.
1. Complete the ‘Adult Patient Registration’ online form at the OneStop portal (15-30 minutes completion time)
2. Verify your email address. As soon as you have completed and submitted an online application form, a verification email will be sent to the email address you provided on your application. You must click the verification link in the email message to verify your email account. Without performing this step, your application is not complete and will not be reviewed by the Commission.
3. Completed applications will be reviewed by MMCC and you will receive a follow up email advising whether or not your application has been approved. Please retain the approval email for your records. It contains your Username, which you will need to log in to the Patient registry (OneStop Portal), as well as your MMCC Patient ID Number, which your physician will need to issue your written certification for medical cannabis. Once you have a written certification, you will also need to provide your Patient ID Number when visiting a licensed dispensary to purchase medical cannabis.
4. OPTIONAL: Designate a Caregiver. Once your application has been approved, you can log into the Patient registry (OneStop Portal) to access your account and designate a caregiver (on the Add/Remove Caregiver tab). Please note that the caregiver must be registered (submitted an application and received MMCC approval) prior to being designated.
Step 3: Obtain a Written Certification from a Provider Registered with the Commission
Once registered with the MMCC, patients must obtain a valid written certification from a provider registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
The patient is required by law to have a bona fide provider-patient relationship with the provider and the provider must approve medical cannabis as a treatment option for the patient for a qualifying medical condition. (List of Maryland providers available here.)
When both the patient and provider are registered with MMCC, the provider will need the patient’s MMCC-issued Patient ID Number to issue the certification for medical cannabis through the Commission’s secure online application.
Step 4: Visit a Licensed Cannabis Dispensary to Receive Your Medicine
After fully registering with the MMCC, receiving a provider certification, and then printing your temporary MMCC Patient ID card from the OneStop portal, you will now be able to visit any licensed Maryland cannabis dispensary to receive your medicine!
We have two Peninsula Alternative Health locations to serve you across Maryland: our flagship dispensary in Salisbury, and our brand new dispensary in Silver Spring.
Congratulations on this major step in your health and wellness journey.
We look forward to seeing you soon at PAH!