Cannabis in Maryland - wikipedia Cannabis in Maryland In the U.S. state of Maryland, the recreational use of marijuana ( cannabis ) is illegal. However, since 2014, the possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana has been decriminalized. In 2012, a state law was enacted to establish a state - regulated medical marijuana program. The program became operational on December 1, 2017. Contents 1 Prohibition and decriminalization 2 Legalization efforts 3 Medical cannabis 4 Legality 5 References 6 External links Prohibition and decriminalization In 2010, Maryland had the fifth - highest overall arrest rate for marijuana possession in the United States, with 409 arrest per 100,000 residents. ( The national rate was 256 per 100,000 people ). In that year, marijuana arrests made up 49.9 % of all drug - possession arrests in the state. In Maryland, blacks were 2.9 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession. In April 2014, Governor Martin O'Malley signed a law that decriminalizes the possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. The measure made such possession a civil infraction, similar to a traffic ticket. The measure took effect on October 1, 2014. Under the law, people under age 21 `` who are accused of having less than 10 grams will have to pay a fine and attend a drug education program. '' In 2016, the Maryland General Assembly, controlled by Democrats, passed SB 517, which decriminalized the possession of marijuana paraphernalia ( such as rolling papers, pipes and bongs ) and decriminalized the smoking of marijuana in public. The measure makes both civil offenses punishable by a fine of up to $500. Republican Governor Larry Hogan vetoed the bill, but the Assembly overrode the veto. Legalization efforts In the 2010s, there were several efforts to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but none has been successful. However, support for legalization has increased in the state ; Washington Post-University of Maryland polls found that 54 % of Marylanders supported legalization in 2014, and 61 % supported legalization in 2016. In 2017, legislation was introduced in the state legislature ( sponsored by Democratic Delegate Curt Anderson, Democratic Senator Richard Madaleno, and others ) to legalize, tax, and regulate recreational marijuana in the state. The bills would have allowed persons 21 or older to lawfully possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants and would impose a $30 - per - ounce excise tax for cultivators and a 9 percent sales tax for buyers ( the same sales tax as for alcohol sales in Maryland ). The legislation also contained a provision that would expunge prior convictions for possession of marijuana in those amounts or less. The legislation did not pass. Medical cannabis In May 2013, Governor O'Malley signed legislation that established a medical marijuana program in Maryland. The legislation restricts cannabis distribution to academic medical centers, which will monitor patients. By September 2016, Maryland state officials were considering more than 800 applications for prospective dispensaries ; under the law, there is a cap of 94 dispensary licenses, two per state Senate district. In 2016, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission awarded 15 preliminary licenses to grow medical marijuana ( out of a pool of almost 150 applicants ) and a further 15 licenses to process medical marijuana `` into pills, oils and other medical products. '' The Commission received almost 150 grower applications and 124 processor applications. Seven companies received licenses to both grow and process. The selection process was controversial because -- although the selection process was blinded and applications were ranked by outside evaluators -- many successful applicants had political connections. One unsuccessful grower applicant who ranked higher than some successful applicants sued the state, alleging that the Commission 's reshuffling was arbitrary. Under Maryland 's liberal approach, physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, podiatrists and nurse midwives may certify patients as eligible for medical marijuana. As of November 2016, just 172 of the state 's practicing physicians ( about 1 % of the state 's total number ) registered to participate in Maryland 's medical marijuana program. In addition, several large health systems in the state, citing the federal law against marijuana, said they would bar their doctors from recommending medical marijuana, including LifeBridge Health and MedStar Health. On December 1, 2017, after five years of delay, Maryland 's medical marijuana program became operational and sales began. At that time, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission had authorized 14 growers, 12 processors and nine dispensaries in the state ; 550 health - care providers were registered to certify patients as eligible ; and 8,500 patients were certified by the Commission to buy medical marijuana.. Legality By statute, defendants who can prove medical necessity at trial face a maximum penalty of $100. Defendants in possession of an ounce or less of marijuana are permitted to raise an affirmative defense to the possession charge if they can prove they suffer from a specific debilitating medical condition. References Jump up ^ The War on Marijuana in Black and White : Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests ( June 2013 ), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, p. 15. Jump up ^ The War on Marijuana in Black and White, p. 123, table A3 & p. 155. Jump up ^ The War on Marijuana in Black and White, p. 155. Jump up ^ Erin Cox ( April 14, 2014 ). `` O'Malley signs ' Jake 's Law, ' marijuana decriminalization ''. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2016 - 11 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Jenna Johnson, Having a small amount of pot in Md. is no longer a criminal case, Washington Post ( October 1, 2014 ). Jump up ^ Pamela Wood, Hogan veto overturned ; marijuana paraphernalia wo n't be a crime in Maryland, Baltimore Sun ( January 21, 2016 ). Jump up ^ Md. Lawmakers Override Veto Of Marijuana Paraphernalia Bill, Associated Press ( January 21, 2016 ). ^ Jump up to : Pamela Wood, Maryland lawmakers renew push to legalize and tax marijuana, Baltimore Sun ( January 30, 2017 ). ^ Jump up to : Samuel Stebbins & Grant Suneson, Pot initiatives : Predicting the next 15 states to legalize marijuana, USA Today ( November 14, 2017 ). Jump up ^ Pat Warren, Maryland Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Legalize Marijuana, CBS Baltimore ( January 30, 2017 ). Jump up ^ Wagner, John ( 2013 - 05 - 02 ). `` O'Malley signs death penalty repeal, medical marijuana bill and other measures ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016 - 11 - 07. ^ Jump up to : Aaron Gregg & Fenit Nirappil, The first players in Maryland 's medical marijuana industry have political ties, Washington Post ( August 15, 2016 ). Jump up ^ Fenit Nirappil, Losing Maryland medical marijuana grower applicant sues the state, Washington Post ( September 19, 2016 ). Jump up ^ Brian Witte, Maryland, after delays, begins the sale of medical marijuana, Associated Press ( December 2, 2017 ). Jump up ^ Meredith Cohn & Andrea K. McDaniels, Few doctors sign on to recommend medical marijuana in Maryland, Baltimore Sun ( November 12, 2016 ). Jump up ^ Fenit Nirappil, Rachel Siegel and Aaron Gregg, Medical marijuana has arrived in Maryland, and sales have begun, Washington Post ( December 2, 2017 ). Jump up ^ Rachel Siegel & Fenit Nirappil, ( Marylanders are days away from being able to legally buy medical marijuana ), Washington Post ( November 28, 2017 ). Jump up ^ MD Criminal Law Code Annotated 5 - 601 ( c ) External links Official website of the Natalie M. LaPrade Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Legality of cannabis in the United States Legalized Alaska California Colorado District of Columbia Maine Massachusetts Nevada Oregon Vermont Washington Decriminalized Connecticut Delaware Illinois Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska New Hampshire New York North Carolina Ohio Rhode Island U.S. Virgin Islands Medical status Medical cannabis Arizona Arkansas Connecticut Delaware Florida Guam Hawaii Illinois Louisiana Maryland Michigan Minnesota Montana New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island West Virginia CBD oil only Alabama Georgia Indiana Iowa Kentucky Mississippi Missouri North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Illegal American Samoa Idaho Kansas Northern Mariana Islands South Dakota Cases Leary v. United States ( 1969 ) Ravin v. State ( 1975 ) Conant v. McCaffrey ( 2000 ) United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers ' Cooperative ( 2001 ) Gonzales v. Raich ( 2005 ) Moncrieffe v. Holder ( 2013 ) Related topics Legal history Timeline Medical Non-medical Legality by jurisdiction Rescheduling Dispensaries Cannabis on American Indian reservations Congressional Cannabis Caucus Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 Politicians who have admitted use Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cannabis_in_Maryland&oldid=827210806 '' Categories : Cannabis in Maryland Maryland law Healthcare in Maryland Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 23 February 2018, at 12 : 01. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the legal amount of weed in maryland
Answer: 10 grams or less