Getting or renewing a medical marijuana card in Maryland has never been easier! The internet has made almost anything possible, including getting your hands on an application (or renewal application) for your medical marijuana card. The online application process is fast, easy, and the most efficient way to go about getting your MMJ card.
In order to apply or reapply for a medical marijuana card in Maryland, you have to meet certain criteria. The criteria could include anything from filling out a form, to updating your patient information, and so on. Follow along with this article to see how you can apply or reapply in Maryland.
Registering as a Medical Marijuana Patient in Maryland
If you are an adult patient (18+ years of age), in order to prepare for registration, you will need the following:
- A valid and accessible email account
- The last four digits of your Social Security Number
- An electronic copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof that the applicant lives in Maryland.
All documents must be dated within the past 90 days. Accepted forms of identification include the following: driver’s license, state issued photo Identification card, military ID (both front and back), or a US Passport.
If the identification you provide is not a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID Card OR does not identify your current address, you must also provide two of the documents listed below as proof of your current Maryland address. Documents must include the applicant’s name and address. Documents may not be from the same two agencies. (i.e. Two documents issued by MVA). and include:
- MVA registration card or title
- Utility, telephone or cable/satellite TV bill
- Bank account statement
- Property tax bill
- Mortgage statement or proof of home ownership (Deed, Title, Bill of Sale)
- Major credit card bill (Visa, MasterCard, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.)
- Residential rental contract (lease or rental contract between landlord and tenant which
includes all signatures) - Selective Service Card
- Federal, state or local government mail issued by the state of Maryland (ie. Social Security, social services)
- Car insurance policy.
All documents must be dated within the past 90 days.
What are the Photo Requirements for Registration?
It’s Best to Use a Passport Photo Application
When applying, you will also need an electronic copy of a clear, recent photograph. We strongly recommend using one of the numerous free, highly-rated passport photo apps widely available for download via the App Store, Google Play Store or anywhere apps are available. Generally, the photo should look like a driver’s license or passport photo. Specifically, it must be a clear, color photo of the patient’s unobscured face taken within the last six months to reflect the patient’s current appearance and feature a plain white or off-white background.
Image File Specifications
If your photo does not meet the stated guidelines, your application will be returned. In general, your photo must look like a passport or driver’s license photo. Specifically, it must adhere to the following requirements: Must be a clear, color photograph of the head and shoulders.
It also must be an image file (.jpg, .png or .gif) no larger than 3 MB in size, sized to 2 x 2 inches with dimensions in a square aspect ratio; minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels, maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels, scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch.
Photo Must Be Current
The photo must also have been taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance. As well as being taken in front of a plain white or off-white background. It also have to be taken in full-face view directly facing the camera with nothing obscuring the face, such as that of sunglasses, and be taken with a neutral facial expression (preferred) or a natural smile, and with both eyes open. The photo may not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way, or your application will not be accepted. .
If your photo does not meet the stated guidelines, your application will be returned. For more examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos, visit the Passport Photos page of the US Department of State website.
Photo ID Exceptions
Patients in hospice care may elect to submit a letter from the attending hospice physician in lieu of a recent photo. The letter must be from the Attending of Hospice Record (AOHR) physician on hospice letterhead stating that the patient is a hospice patient under his or her care. It may be uploaded in either .jpg or .pdf format.
Maryland Requirements for Patients Under 18
Minor patients are required to have at least one caregiver assigned to their account at all times. Only parents or legal guardians 21 years of age and older are eligible to serve as caregivers for minor patients. Caregivers must register with the Commission prior to registering the minor patient. Registering a minor patient requires additional forms, one of which must be notarized, so please review the requirements in the Process Overview and Quick Reference Card documents for registering a minor patient.
For additional information on caregivers, please visit the Caregivers page and review the Process Overview and Quick Reference Card documents for registering as a caregiver.
What Are the Qualifying Patient Conditions to Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card in Maryland?
A medical marijuana patient in Maryland 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. Qualifying medical conditions include:
- Cachexia
- Anorexia
- Wasting syndrome
- Severe or chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
- Glaucoma
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Another chronic medical condition which is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective.
Next Steps to Obtaining a Medical Marijuana Card in Maryland
Patients must obtain a valid written certification from a provider registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
The Provider Registry is open and the Commission encourages providers to register. Any provider with an active, unrestricted license in good standing with their corresponding board and actively registered to prescribe controlled substances in Maryland is eligible to register with MMCC. 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.
If you are a qualifying patient who is enrolled in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, you are eligible for a waiver of the $50 fee for the patient ID card. In order to receive the ID card fee waiver, you must fill out the online patient registration form and provide the following documentation:
If you’re a VA Enrollee, individuals are required to upload their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID Card. The expiration date must be valid and listed on the front of the VA ID card.
If you’re in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, you are required to submit a copy of your red and white medical assistance card from the state of Maryland is required, which can be obtained by calling the Maryland Health Connection Call Center at 1-855-642-8572 (TTY: 1-855-642-8573)
Either a Certificate of Creditable Coverage, which can be obtained by contacting Maryland Medicaid Beneficiary Services at 1-855-492-5231, or an Eligibility Determination Letter from the Maryland Health Connection, which can be obtained through your Maryland Health Connection account or by contacting 1-855-642-8562.
Can I have My Patient Card Discount Applied Retroactively?
If you are a current patient, you are not eligible to have the fee waived retroactively. You may be eligible for the fee waiver upon renewal. Complete and submit an online application. Visit the MMCC Registry website
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.
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, 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.
Designating a Caregiver
OPTIONAL: Once your application has been approved, you can log into the Patient Registry 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.
After receiving MMCC approval, you are ready to visit a provider registered with MMCC to obtain a valid certification. Once fully registered and in possession of a valid certification, you will be able to print your temporary MMCC patient ID card.
Please be sure to have your MMCC Patient ID Number with you when you visit your provider and dispensary.
Visit a Licensed Maryland Dispensary
After registering, obtaining a valid written certification from a registered provider, and printing a temporary MMCC Patient ID card, patients are able to visit licensed Maryland dispensaries to purchase medical cannabis.
When purchasing medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary, patients will be required to present their MMCC ID card. The dispensary agent will verify the patient’s certification in the Commission’s database before conducting any transaction.
Patients may only purchase and obtain a maximum of a thirty-day supply of medical cannabis at one time. A certification that is not used to purchase medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary in the state of Maryland within 120 days of issuance becomes null and void.
Applied But Not Approved?
MMCC Patient Registry is experiencing very high volumes of applications for Medical Cannabis Registration since the start of the pandemic. Please do not call or email the Commission unless it has been more than 45 days since submission of your initial application or more than 30 days since you resubmitted a corrected application.
In order to be fair to all patients seeking registration, the MMCC can not expedite the processing of an application for individuals that visit MMCC in person. Their staff is happy to assist with registering a patient when needed, however, the application will be processed in the order it was received. As always, hospice applications are processed immediately. Their staff continues to process an extremely high volume of patient applications. Additional staff has even been hired to address the patient registration volumes.
If you have not received a confirmation email after you submitted your application, please contact the Commission at 410-487-8100.
Congratulations on Obtaining a Medical Marijuana Card in Maryland!
Once you have received your card and purchased medical marijuana from a licensed facility, the last you have to do is consume it! Enjoy your hard-earned medicine, and if you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends that might be interested in becoming a medical marijuana patient in Maryland! Filling out paperwork can be tedious, but this is what you’ve waited for! Follow all these steps to get certified and you’re good to go!
Additional Resources:
At The Weed Blog, we strive to produce the latest online news resources regarding marijuana. With marijuana laws constantly changing, learn from us what you can do to promote activism in your area. Otherwise, consider these other top-tier articles regarding cannabis:
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