Becoming a Maryland medical cannabis patient
Maryland runs the two steps in the opposite order to most states — you register with the state first, then get certified. Get that the right way round and the rest is quick.
Register first, then get certified
Most states work the other way round. In Maryland your provider needs an existing registration to file the certification into — so if you book before registering, there's nowhere for it to go.
That's what our Maryland "registration assist" means
The OneStop portal is where most Maryland patients get stuck — account setup, document uploads, the residency proof. If any of that is the hard part for you, call us before your appointment and we'll walk you through it. That help is included, not an extra.
The four steps
Most Maryland patients finish the whole thing in under two weeks.
Register with the MCA on OneStop
Create your account at Maryland's OneStop portal and complete the patient registration. You'll need:
- Proof of Maryland residency
- A government-issued photo ID
- A recent photograph of yourself
- A working email address — everything downstream goes there
You must be 18 or older to register on your own. When it's done you'll have an MCA Patient ID number — write it down, your provider needs it.
Book your certification visit
Telehealth with a Maryland provider registered with the MCA as a certifying provider. Maryland allows a wider range of clinicians to certify than most states — physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrists, and midwives can all register.
Have your MCA Patient ID number to hand at the appointment.
Your provider files the written certification
If you qualify, the certification goes straight into your existing MCA profile — nothing for you to submit. Maryland certifications run one year, so this is the part you'll repeat annually.
Records help but aren't always required. Maryland providers can certify based on the consultation, so come prepared to talk about your condition and symptoms.
Go to a dispensary
Once your certification is active, you can purchase. Maryland doesn't require you to carry a physical card — the MCA doesn't require patient ID cards, and neither do licensed dispensaries. They look you up by your registration.
You can print a paper ID from OneStop free if you'd like something to carry, and an optional physical card is available for a fee. Most patients don't bother.
⚠️ Two different renewal cycles
Your written certification lasts one year and is what actually authorizes purchases. That's the one you'll renew with us annually.
Your MCA patient registration lasts six years. That one you'll barely think about — but when it does come round, it's renewed through OneStop rather than through a provider.
Nearly every access problem in Maryland is the annual certification lapsing while the registration is still perfectly valid. More on renewals →
Why a card still matters
Maryland's adult-use sales opened in July 2023, and the tax gap widened in July 2025.
Medical cannabis is exempt from Maryland's cannabis sales and use tax entirely.
Raised from 9% on July 1, 2025, and applied statewide with no local add-ons.
- A 12% saving on every purchase. For regular buyers that covers certification well within the year.
- Access at 18 — adult-use requires 21.
- Higher possession limits than adult-use consumers get.
- Medical-only products that aren't on the adult-use menu at many dispensaries.
- A provider who knows what you're taking, including how cannabis sits alongside your other prescriptions.
What it costs
Common questions
What Maryland patients ask us most.
Do I have to register before my appointment?▾
Yes, and this is the thing that catches Maryland patients out. Your provider files the certification into your existing MCA profile — without a registration there's nothing to file it into. Register on OneStop first, get your MCA Patient ID, then book. If the portal is the obstacle, call us and we'll go through it with you.
Do I need a physical card to buy?▾
No. The MCA doesn't require patient ID cards and neither do licensed Maryland dispensaries — they verify you against your registration. You can print a free paper ID from OneStop if you want something in your wallet, and an optional physical card is available for a fee, but neither is necessary to purchase.
How long does everything last?▾
Two different clocks. Your written certification is good for one year and is what authorizes purchases — that's the annual renewal. Your MCA patient registration lasts six years and is renewed through OneStop. Most patients only ever think about the annual one.
Can my regular doctor certify me?▾
Possibly — Maryland allows physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrists, and midwives to register as certifying providers, which is broader than most states. Whether yours has registered is another matter, and many haven't. The MCA publishes a list of registered providers if you want to check.
Do I need medical records?▾
They help but aren't always required — Maryland providers can certify based on the consultation itself. Bring what you have, and be ready to talk through your condition, your symptoms, and what you've already tried.
How much can I possess?▾
Registered patients have a higher limit than adult-use consumers — up to around four ounces at a time, against 1.5 ounces for adult-use. That's a possession limit rather than a purchase limit, and most patients never approach it.
Do you certify patients under 18 in Maryland?▾
No — our Maryland practice is adults only, 18 and over. Maryland does allow minor patients, with a parent or legal guardian registering as caregiver first. If you're seeking care for a child, the MCA's registered provider list is the place to start. More on Maryland's minor process →
Can I use my Maryland registration elsewhere?▾
Washington DC accepts out-of-state medical cards, which is genuinely useful if you're near the district. Other states vary, so check before travelling — and never carry cannabis across state lines, which is prohibited under federal law regardless of what either state allows.
Registered already? Book your certification.
One telehealth visit with a Maryland certifying provider, $125, and OneStop help included if you need it.
📅 Schedule my MD certification Not registered yet, or stuck on OneStop? Call 814-360-5353 and we'll get you through it first.Maryland links
Reviewed July 2026 against Maryland Cannabis Administration guidance. Maryland's cannabis tax changed in July 2025 — the MCA and the Comptroller are always the final word.