Charles County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2023

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Charles County?

The licensed cultivation of cannabis in Charles County is legal whether for medical or adult use. Medical cannabis was legalized by the State of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Law in 2014, establishing the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). This was transformed into the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) in May 2023 when the Cannabis Reform Act legalized adult-use cannabis in the state for people with a minimum age of 21 effective July 1, 2023.

Existing holders of the medical cannabis grower license must have applied for conversion to a medical and adult-use cannabis grower license before July 1, 2023, to continue to operate after that date. The medical and adult-use cannabis grower license has a five-year validity period.

The MCA will issue only 75 medical and adult-use cannabis grower licenses and 100 medical and adult-use cannabis micro-grower licenses statewide, including the conversions. There is no licensed cannabis cultivator in Charles County as of May 2023.

According to the Charles County Zoning Regulations, licensed commercial cannabis greenhouses are allowed in the following zoning districts:

• Community Commercial Zone (CC)

• Central Business Zone (CB)

• Business Park Zone (BP)

• General Industiral Zone (IG)

• Heavy Industrial Zone (IH)

• Planned Employment and Industrial Park Zone (PEP)

These commercial cannabis greenhouses are allowed to also have their own cannabis dispensary in the same location. However, they are required to comply with the following county rules:

1. They must hold a license from the MCA and provide such documentation to the county before they start to operate.

2. There must be a minimum of 1,000 feet between the dispensary facility and another dispensary daycare center, school, or drug rehabilitation center.

3. There must be a buffer yard separating the commercial greenhouse and dispensary from its immediate neighbors.

The Cannabis Reform Act allows licensed cannabis cultivators to grow their crops only indoors. The maximum allowable cannabis crop canopy is 300,000 square feet.

Personal cultivation of cannabis is also allowed. Adults not younger than 21 may grow up to two cannabis plants at home, regardless of how many qualified adults live there. The grower must be the homeowner or have the homeowner’s consent. The growing area must be an enclosed space hidden from public sight and locked against entry of anyone below 21.

Medical cannabis cardholders not younger than 21 may grow up to four cannabis plants at home. The limit applies even if more than one medical cannabis cardholder resides in the same home. They must also comply with the same security and visibility requirements.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Charles County?

The licensed manufacturing of cannabis products in Charles County is legal for both medical and adult-use cannabis products under the Cannabis Reform Act of the State of Maryland.

Existing licensed medical cannabis manufacturers were required to convert to a medical and adult-use cannabis processor license prior to July 1 2023 for their operations to continue. Their new license carries a five-year validity period.

The MCA will issue only 100 medical and adult-use cannabis processor licenses and 100 medical and adult-use cannabis micro-processor licenses across the state, inclusive of conversions. There is one licensed cannabis manufacturer in Charles County as of May 2023.

In Charles County, licensed cannabis manufacturing facilities are allowed in the following zones:

• Agricultural Conservation Zone (AC)

• Community Commercial Zone (CC)

• Central Business Zone (CB)

• Business Park Zone (BP)

• General Industiral Zone (IG)

• Heavy Industrial Zone (IH)

• Planned Employment and Industrial Park Zone (PEP)

These licensed cannabis manufacturing facilities must comply with the same county rules as licensed cannabis greenhouses with dispensaries.

A licensed cannabis manufacturer processing edible cannabis products is restricted to a dosage limit of 25 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving and 100 milligrams of THC per package. To manufacture edible cannabis products that contain more than these, the licensee must submit an edible cannabis product exemption application form to the MCA. Even if the exemption is approved, however, the THC content of the edible cannabis product cannot exceed 40 milligrams per serving. All types of edible or inedible cannabis products must be contained in tamper-evident and child-resistant packages.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Charles County?

The licensed retail selling of cannabis in Charles County is legal for both medical and adult-use cannabis and their respective products with the State of Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act.

Existing licensed medical cannabis dispensaries were required to convert to a medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary license before July 1 2023 to continue their operations. Their converted license has a validity period of five years.

The MCA will issue only 300 medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses and 200 medical and adult-use cannabis micro-dispensary licenses throughout the state, including conversions. There is no licensed cannabis dispensary in Charles County as of May 2023.

Medical cannabis and medical cannabis products are only allowed to be sold to medical cannabis cardholders. A licensed cannabis dispensary is allowed to sell to a medical cannabis cardholder every 30 days a maximum of 120 grams of dried cannabis flowers or 36 grams of THC contained in medical cannabis products.

Adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products are only allowed to be sold to consumers with a minimum age of 21 as verified through a valid government-issued ID. At any time, a qualified consumer is only allowed to possess any of the following:

• Cannabis flower: 1.5 ounces

• Cannabis concentrate: 12 grams

• Cannabis products: 750 milligrams total THC content

Licensed cannabis dispensaries are authorized to sell cannabis flowers, extracts, concentrates, oils, tinctures, waxes, capsules, dermal patches, suppositories, aerosols, cartridges, edibles, salves, ointments, and other processed cannabis forms as well as cannabis supplies and educational materials.

Cannabis dispensaries are allowed in the following zones in Charles County:

• Community Commercial Zone (CC)

• Central Business Zone (CB)

• Business Park Zone (BP)

• General Industiral Zone (IG)

• Heavy Industrial Zone (IH)

• Planned Employment and Industrial Park Zone (PEP)

These licensed cannabis dispensaries must comply with the same county rules as licensed cannabis greenhouses with dispensaries and licensed cannabis manufacturing facilities.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Charles County?

The licensed delivery of cannabis in Charles County is legal for licensed medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries. They can only deliver medical cannabis and medical cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders, and adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products to consumers with a valid government-issued ID proving that they are not below the age of 21.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Charles County

A resident of Charles County who needs medical cannabis treatment can get a medical cannabis card by first creating an account in the State of Maryland’s OneStop Portal to obtain a patient ID number. The patient must take this number to an MCA-registered healthcare provider who will check for a qualifying diagnosis. There are seven MCA-registered physicians in Charles County.

The following conditions qualify for medical cannabis treatment:

• A severe chronic illness not responding to other treatments

• Severe or persistent muscle spasms

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Glaucoma

• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes at least one of the following:

• Cachexia

• Seizures

• Anorexia

• Severe nausea

• Severe or chronic pain

The MCA-registered healthcare provider will use the patient’s ID number to log a written certification into the OneStop Portal. After this, the patient must log into the portal to order the medical cannabis card. There is a $25 nonrefundable fee. This is waived for patients who can provide proof of being under the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System or the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.

A patient below 18 is required to have at least one caregiver who is either a parent or a legal guardian. The patient may have a maximum of four caregivers consisting of a parent, a legal guardian, and two other adults. The caregiver of a minor must register with the MCA before registering the patient. Meanwhile, a caregiver may also register to serve an adult patient who needs assistance in purchasing medical cannabis.

The MCA entertains walk-in queries Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following address:

Maryland Cannabis Administration

849 International Drive Suite 450,

Linthicum, MD 21090

They may also be contacted through the following:

Phone: 410-487-8100 or 1-844-421-2571

Email: mdh.infoandregistration@maryland.gov​

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Charles County?

The State of Maryland imposes a 9% sales tax on adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products. Medical cannabis and medical cannabis products purchased by medical cannabis cardholders are exempted from this. Since there is no cannabis dispensary in Charles County as of May 2023, it has not contributed to the state’s cannabis revenues.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Charles County

Medical cannabis was legalized in Charles County in 2014, and adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2023.

Data sent by the Charles County Sheriff's Office to the FBI’s Crime Explorer page shows that in 2013, the year prior to medical cannabis legalization, there were 692 marijuana offense arrests, comprised of 617 arrests for possession and 75 arrests for sales.

In 2015, the year after medical cannabis legalization, there were 186 marijuana offense arrests, comprised of 65 arrests for possession and 121 arrests for sales.

The latest data available, which is from 2019, shows 76 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of 41 arrests for possession and 35 arrests for sales.

The number of DUI arrests in those years was as follows:

• 2013: 385 arrests

• 2015: 358 arrests

• 2019: 197 arrests