Everything You Need to Know About the Legalization of Cannabis in Maryland Beginning July 1st

On November 8, 2022, Maryland voted to legalize recreational marijuana use for adults 21+ beginning July 1, 2023. We recently spoke to Matt Jenner, Regional Marketing Manager at gLeaf (808 Hungerford Dr) in Rockville to help break down the new laws and to answer a few common questions we’ve been receiving:

How can I purchase cannabis beginning July 1st?
Starting July 1st, anyone 21+ with a valid government ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID, etc.) will be legally allowed to purchase and possess cannabis products from registered dispensaries in Maryland. At gLeaf, adult-use customers will be invited to browse our online menu and preorder their products from home, or come right to our store and talk with one of our friendly and knowledgeable budtenders before placing your order. It will be as simple as nearly any other purchase you make!

Will you still need a medical marijuana card?
That’s the best part – medical cards will no longer be required to purchase cannabis in Maryland beginning on 7/1/23. Just like when purchasing alcohol, anyone 21 or older with a valid ID will be able to enter our stores. There is one caveat, however. Adult-use (recreational) customers will be subject to a 9% sales tax per transaction, and can only purchase up to 42 grams of cannabis (an ounce and a half) at a time. Medical patients do not pay any sales tax, and start off with an allotment of 120 grams, as prescribed by their certifying physician. Additionally, adult-use customers will not be able to access all of the same products as medical patients. Products such as dabbable concentrates, RSO, and high-dose edibles will not be available to adult-use customers at this time. This may change as Maryland’s adult-use program evolves. Medical patients will continue to have access to our full range of products.

What happens if you get pulled over by the police?
Definitely an important question! If you are pulled over by police after making a purchase at a dispensary, it will be important to keep your product in its sealed, original packaging, along with your receipt or proof of purchase. You should not have any issues with law enforcement as long as these basic compliance measures are followed, but I would add it is always in your best interest to obey the rules of the road when transporting your cannabis! It is best practice to keep all cannabis products sealed before reaching your destination, both for your sake, and the sake of the dispensary where you purchased. Familiarize yourself with Maryland’s new policy to protect yourself: https://mmcc.maryland.gov/Pages/cannabisfaq.aspx

Will cannabis be available in a wider variety of stores?
Cannabis products will only be sold from dispensaries that are officially licensed with the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). THC and CBD products found in convenience stores, while legal, will be extremely low-dose and unregulated. With that said, you may see some new brick-and-mortar stores pop-up over the next year or two, as well as new home delivery services. At gLeaf, we currently offer free home delivery to our medical patients, and that will remain in place after July 1st. Adult-use customers will not be able to participate in our delivery program.

Can I smoke in public?
No, smoking in public or in your car will still remain illegal under Maryland law. That will likely only change with federal decriminalization.

Will your store be holding any special events on July 1st?
The entire day will be a special event! We’ll be having tons of giveaways for adult-use customers, music and good vibes all day! Come by to check out the craziness over July 4th weekend! You can visit https://gleaf.com/rockville-maryland/ to browse our Rockville menu, and starting 7/1, place your order online. Visit our event calendar to view all of our upcoming pop-ups, promotions, and community events – https://gleaf.com/md-events/ We are fully stocked with product, and we’re excited to serve our friends and neighbors from Montgomery County, and beyond! Check out our Frederick location for those around Frederick County.
Products that will be available for adult-use purchase:
Flower (3.5g, 7g, 14g, and 28g containers available), pre-rolls (1g or 0.5g), vape cartridges (1g or 0.5g), edibles (not greater than 10mg per piece), tinctures (not greater than 100mg per bottle), topicals, glass pieces and accessories

While anyone over 21 may purchase and consume cannabis products in Maryland, interstate travel with cannabis will remain illegal. gLeaf accepts payment in cash or debit card only. Credit card transactions are generally not allowed in Maryland cannabis sales. Medical patients, veterans, and seniors will be eligible for daily discounts starting on 7/1. All medical patients and adult-use customers will be automatically entered into our awesome loyalty point program!