Washington County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Washington County?

It is legal in Washington County to cultivate both medical and adult-use cannabis. The Medical Cannabis Law of the State of Maryland legalized medical cannabis in 2014 and created the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). In May 2023, the adult use of cannabis by people aged at least 21 was legalized by the state’s Cannabis Reform Act effective July 1, 2023. This changed the MMCC into the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA).

Medical cannabis growers with current licenses were required to apply to convert their license, before July 1, 2023, to a medical and adult-use cannabis grower license or a medical and adult-use cannabis micro-grower license, both of which carry a validity period of five years. Non-compliance will result in a cessation of their operations by that date. As of June 2023, there were three licensed cannabis growers in Washington County.

The Cannabis Reform Act states that inclusive of conversions, only 75 licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis growers and 100 licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis micro-growers will be issued statewide by the MCA.

The holder of a medical and adult-use cannabis grower license is authorized to grow cannabis only indoors, with a maximum crop canopy of 300,000 square feet. The holder of a medical and adult-use cannabis micro-grower license is also only allowed to grow indoors but with a maximum crop canopy of only 10,000 square feet.

The home cultivation of cannabis for personal use only is likewise allowed for people aged at least 21 in Washington County. Medical cannabis cardholders who are at least 21 are allowed to grow a maximum of four cannabis plants in one residence even if multiple cardholders live together. Non-cardholders who are at least 21 are allowed to grow a maximum of only two cannabis plants in one residence even if multiple qualified adults live together. All cannabis home growers must either be homeowners or have the written consent of the homeowner for their cannabis cultivation. They must grow cannabis in a space that is enclosed, locked to prevent access by minors, and concealed from public view.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Washington County?

It is legal in Washington County to manufacture both medical and adult-use cannabis products pursuant to the State of Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act.

Medical cannabis manufacturers holding current licenses were required to make an application to convert their license, before July 1, 2023, to a medical and adult-use cannabis processor license or a medical and adult-use cannabis micro-processor license, both carrying a validity period of five years. Those who do not do so must cease operating by that date. As of June 2023, there were two licensed cannabis processors in Washington County.

Including conversions, only 100 licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis processors and 100 licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis micro-processors will be issued by the MCA across the state.

The holder of a medical and adult-use cannabis processor license is authorized to process more than 1,000 pounds of cannabis into manufactured products every year. The holder of a medical and adult-use cannabis micro-processor license is only allowed to process a maximum of 1,000 pounds of cannabis into manufactured products yearly.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Washington County?

It is legal in Washington County for licensed dispensaries to sell medical cannabis and medical cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders as well as adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products to people aged at least 21 by virtue of the Cannabis Reform Act of the State of Maryland.

Medical cannabis dispensaries with current licenses were mandated to make an application for license conversion, before July 1, 2023, to a medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary license or a medical and adult-use cannabis micro-dispensary license, both with a five-year validity period. Those who do not convert cannot continue to operate by that date. As of June 2023, there was one licensed cannabis dispensary in Washington County, located in the City of Hagerstown.

Only 300 licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries and 200 licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis micro-dispensaries will be issued throughout the state by the MCA, including conversions.

The holder of a medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary license is authorized to run a physical store from which medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products are sold and delivered to qualified purchasers. The holder of a medical and adult-use cannabis micro-dispensary license is not allowed to have a physical store and may only sell retail medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products by delivery to qualified purchasers. A licensed micro-dispensary may employ only a maximum of 10 employees.

Except for converted dispensary licenses that were in proper zones prior to July 1, 2023, all licensed medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries and micro-dispensaries must be at least 1,000 feet away from another licensed cannabis dispensary and at least 500 feet away from a childcare facility, school, library playground, or park.

A licensed medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary or micro-dispensary is required to impose a 30-day purchase limit on every medical cannabis cardholder equivalent to a total of 36 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contained in medical cannabis products or 120 grams of cannabis in dried flower form.

For consumers aged at least 21 who can present a valid government-issued photo ID as proof of identification and age, a licensed medical and adult-use cannabis dispensary or micro-dispensary may sell at every transaction the personal use amount allowed, which is as follows:

Licensed medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries and micro-dispensaries are authorized to sell cannabis in the form of dried flowers and cannabis products in the form of concentrates, oils, tinctures, waxes, suppositories, capsules, edible goods, dermal patches, and topical formulations.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Washington County?

It is legal in Washington County for licensed medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries and micro-dispensaries to deliver medical cannabis and medical cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders as well as adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products to people aged at least 21 in accordance with the State of Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Washington County

To avail of medical cannabis treatment, a patient residing in Washington County must get a medical cannabis card. The patient must log into the OneStop Portal of the State of Maryland to create an account in the MCA registry and receive a patient ID number. Next, the patient must be examined by an MCA-registered physician to check for any of the qualifying medical conditions. There are 23 of these physicians in Washington County.

The conditions that qualify under the MCA are the following:

• Glaucoma
• A severe chronic illness not responding to any treatment
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Severe or persistent muscle spasms
• A chronic or debilitating illness causing one or more of the following:
  • Severe nausea
  • Cachexia
  • Anorexia
  • Seizures

If the patient’s condition qualifies, the physician will use the patient’s identification number to post a written certification on the MCA registry. The patient may then order a medical cannabis card from the online registry for $25. Patients who can submit documented proof of being beneficiaries of the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Maryland Veterans Affairs Health Care System are exempted from having to pay the fee.

For patients who are not yet 18 years old, at least one caregiver is required who must be a parent or a legal guardian. A maximum of four caregivers may be named, with two more adults added to the parent and legal guardian. Caregivers of patients who are minors must first register themselves with the MCA before their patients can be registered. Caregivers of adult patients who require help also need to register with the MCA.

Walk-in queries are entertained by the MCA from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays at the following address:

Maryland Cannabis Administration

849 International Drive Suite 450,

Linthicum, MD 21090

The following channels may also be used for contact:

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

Email: mdh.infoandregistration@maryland.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Washington County?

The Cannabis Reform Act of the State of Maryland subjects all sales of adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products to qualified consumers to a 9% sales and use tax. This tax does not apply to the sales between licensed cannabis adult-use businesses and sales of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products.

From the total adult-use cannabis sales and use tax collected by the state, 5% is distributed among the counties that have licensed adult-use cannabis businesses, such as Washington County, depending on the percentage of revenue that each has contributed. The county must then distribute half of the amount it has received among the municipalities that have licensed dispensaries, also depending on the percentage of revenue that each has generated. In the case of Washington County, half of its share will go to the City of Hagerstown.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Washington County

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

On the FBI’s Crime Explorer page, data sent by the Washington County Sheriff's Office shows that in 2013, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 23 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of eight arrests for possession and 15 arrests for sales.

In 2015, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 20 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of 15 arrests for possession and five arrests for sales.

In 2018, there was one arrest for a marijuana offense, which was sales.

The latest data available, which is from 2020, shows 26 arrests for marijuana offenses, comprised of 16 arrests for possession and 10 arrests for sales.

In those years, the number of DUI arrests was as follows:

• 2013: 182 arrests
• 2015: 95 arrests
• 2018: 115 arrests
• 2020: 77 arrests