The 7 Types of Cannabis Products Available in Maryland

Maryland has not traditionally been a cannabis-friendly state. While colonial Maryland was an important center of hemp production, things changed dramatically beginning in the 1930s. Marijuana was prohibited, with penalties increasing sharply over the following decades. During the height of the drug war, some marijuana possession convictions could incur mandatory sentences as high as 25 years. The result was sky-high marijuana arrests, with unequal enforcement contributing to Maryland having the highest black incarceration rate in the nation.

Fortunately, things have been changing. Maryland legalized medical cannabis in 2013, and subsequent laws decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis, as well as paraphernalia. Most promisingly, in early 2019, the Baltimore state’s attorney vowed to end prosecutions for marijuana possession and vacate thousands of previous possession convictions. 

However, while cannabis legalization is likely within the next few years, for now, Maryland has strict limits on who can possess cannabis, and what types of products are legal. Here are the 7 types of cannabis that are legal in Maryland. 

1. CBD is Legal in Maryland (and Nationwide)

Benefits: no-psychoactive effects, legal nationwide

CBD is legal across America when derived from hemp, or cannabis with a negligible content of THC (the part of cannabis that produces the high). CBD has numerous health benefits, from treating symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and arthritis, to relieving nausea without the intoxicating effects of THC. Full and broad-spectrum CBD extracts also include other beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes. These contribute to the extract’s healing properties. 

Here are a few excellent CBD products you can purchase in Maryland:

Papa & Barkley CBD Hemp Drops – 450mg (15ml)

This powerful CBD tincture is naturally produced without harmful chemicals or solvents. Grown and extracted in Colorado, this American-made extract is backed by a 100% Happiness Guarantee, making it a perfect first CBD product.

Papa & Barkley CBD Hemp Pain Balm – 180mg (15mL)

This ingenious salve is a great product to soothe the skin while relieving aches and pains, from headaches or arthritis. CBD extract is combined with healing herbs like eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil, in a luscious, hydrating base, for a product that will soothe the senses, along with aches and pains. 

2. Concentrates and Oils

Benefits: Fast-acting, easy to use

Oils and concentrates are legal for medical cannabis users in Maryland. These products contain cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from the cannabis plant, without the leaf matter. They are consumed by vaporization, allowing you to breathe in the extract without smoke. This is one of the quickest ways to consume cannabis. The vapor absorbs directly through your lungs and into your bloodstream, and effects appear roughly 90 seconds after smoking. 

New Maryland medical cannabis card users should keep in mind that concentrates and oils are very strong. Take a break for a few minutes after each puff, to ensure you don’t end up uncomfortably high. 

This is a very quick and clean way to consume cannabis. There’s no harsh smoke to irritate your lungs, and very little odor, enabling you to consume cannabis easily and discreetly when you need it.

3. Flower/Smokable Medical Cannabis in Maryland

Benefits: Fast onset, social

Smoking cannabis has been a traditional way to consume the herb, and many users still prefer it. It can be an enjoyable social experience to smoke with other users, and the high has a quick onset. 

For medical patients and health-conscious users, however, the effects of inhaling smoke can be a concern. Smoking through a water pipe can make the smoke less harsh, but many leaf aficionados are now using vaporizers or “vapes” such as the Pax 3. These devices heat the cannabis to release THC, CBD, and other active components, without burning the cannabis, enabling users to enjoy their favorite strain in a smoke-free experience. 

Maryland medical patients can have up to 120 grams of cannabis and can use up to 36 grams of THC per month, However, if you have the means to get to the dispensary regularly, we recommend not stocking up too much, so that your leaf stays fresh. 

4. Edibles in Maryland

Benefits: Prolonged effect, discrete 

For chronic pain and other conditions that require a sustained dose of cannabis, edibles are a great choice. Each edible has a precisely measured dose of THC and/or other cannabinoids, packaged in a gummy, chocolate, cannabis drink, or other food product. This makes it easy to dose precisely, once you’re familiar with how your body reacts to cannabis. 

If you’re a new user, however, you may want to start with a different dosing method. It can take two hours for you to feel the maximum effect from an edible, which can make it very difficult to give yourself the right dose until you’re more experienced. It’s easy to accidentally take too much, thinking a previous dose hasn’t worked, and if that happens, you can end up uncomfortably high for several hours.

If you do get too high, don’t panic. You’re not in any danger, the high will gradually fade. Just relax, stay comfortable, and enjoy the ride.

Local Product Available: 

• Curio Wellness Lemon Honey Chews: Combining 20 mg of CBD with either two or four milligrams of THC, these medicated chews are a gentle introduction to cannabis edibles. They’re ideal for treating symptoms of illnesses like eczema, arthritis, insomnia, and endometriosis, these chews have excellent medical benefits with little of the intoxication of THC. 

5. Capsules in Maryland

Benefits: Convenient, prolonged effect

Capsules are measured doses of cannabis available in pill form. Cannabis pills have the same benefits as edibles: they’re easy to take, long-lasting, and convenient. However, as with edibles, they take a long time to kick in, which can make it tricky for new users to get their dose right. 

Local Product Available: 

• 10:1 CBD: THC (100mg CBD/10mg THC): These capsules include 100 mg of CBD with 10 MG of THC, making them an ideal dose for many experienced medical cannabis users.

6. Tinctures in Maryland

Benefits: Precise dosing, discrete

Tinctures arguably give you the most control of any dosing method, along with a very discreet and portable method. Tinctures contain a highly standardized extract of cannabis in alcohol, which users take by squeezing the correct amount in the mouth (preferably, under the tongue), or enjoying a beverage.  When taken sublingually, effects can begin within minutes, enabling the user to consume the precise amount they need. They’re a great tool for Maryland residents dealing with ongoing issues, such as nausea or chronic pain.

7. Rubs/Topicals in Maryland

Benefits: Ideal for localized pain, no psychoactive effects

From muscle aches to arthritis to migraines, cannabis topicals can help with many pain problems. Topicals are great when you need localized relief. And because THC doesn’t absorb through the skin, topicals shouldn’t cause the psychoactive “high” of taking cannabis internally. 

Local products available:

• Synergy Heat: This topical combines 50mg each of THC and CBD, with more than 20 blended essential oils. Spicy ingredients like cinnamon leaf oil and black pepper and ginger enhance healing, in a rub that’s perfect for muscle soreness and pain.