FAQ

A Maryland patient can only obtain legal medical cannabis from Maryland-licensed dispensaries. The dispensaries can only obtain their cannabis from Maryland-licensed growers, and their extracts from Maryland-licensed processors

​The certification issued by a provider for a patient identifies the amount of dried flower and THC that the patient may purchase in a 30-day period. The limit is calculated as a ROLLING 30-day limit- not by calendar month.

A patient can register as a qualifying patient on the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) website. Once you have registered you can contact us to book your appointment for your evaluation. Once you receive your patient number (obtained only through the Commission’s website), the patient’s registered physician can link to the patient by entering the patient’s Commission-assigned number(16 digits) on the Commission’s secure database, and then issue an online certification for medical cannabis. Patients can then obtain medical cannabis at any licensed Dispensary in Maryland by presenting their ID card or a valid government-issued ID.

You can find a full list of opened on our Dispensaries page. You can also find a list from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission website www. http://mmcc.maryland.gov/. Patients may only obtain a thirty-day supply at one time from a licensed dispensary and please note, a written certification that is not used to purchase medical cannabis within 120 days of issuance becomes null and void.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) are projecting early December of 2017.

Greenleaf Medical Cannabis Evaluation and resource Center can help you with that, we will register and one of our certified and registered physicians will register you with the Maryland Commission to obtain a “written certification.”

Any person who lives in Maryland can participate in the program. A person from out-of-state who is in the state for the purpose of receiving medical care can be issued a written certification and obtain medical cannabis.

A patient needs an in-person visit with a registered physician with whom the patient has a “bona fide physician-patient relationship.” If the patient meets the physician’s criteria for treatment with medical cannabis, the physician will issue a written certification. The physician records the written certification in the Commission’s database.

It means the physician has examined the patient, reviewed medical records, assessed the patient’s medical history, maintains records on the patient, and will provide follow-up care to the patient as needed.

The patient can go to any licensed dispensary to pick up medical cannabis. Some dispensaries will deliver medical cannabis to the patient’s home. The dispensary must check the Commission’s secure database to confirm that the patient has a “written certification” and confirm the patient’s identity. The dispensary will record how much medical cannabis has been dispensed to the patient.

All medical providers working with GreenLeaf Consultants, LLC are licensed and authorized to practice medicine in the state of Maryland and are in full compliance and registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. They all possess an extensive, working knowledge of medical cannabis benefits.

No we do not accept Insurance. Health insurers are not required to cover the cost of medical cannabis. Private health insurers are free under Maryland law to develop policies that will cover medical cannabis. At this time, the cost of medical cannabis is not reimbursable by any private or public insurance plan, Medicare or Medicaid, or through Veterans’ covered plans.

After the doctor has examined the patient and the patient’s records, the physician may issue the patient a written certification.

Any condition that is severe, for which other medical treatments have been ineffective, and if the symptoms “reasonably can be expected to be relieved” by the medical use of Cannabis. In addition, if the patient has a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes severe loss of appetite, wasting, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures or severe or persistent muscle spasms, or glaucoma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The day of your appointment you will need a Photo ID and medical records that say something about the condition for which you are trying to enter the program. Your medical records must be within the past 12 months of your appointment date.

The written certification is at no cost to you at all. However, the evaluation with one of our qualified and registered physicians is $200. That price includes assistance with all paperwork, Physicians visit, and any other help throughout your filling process.

Yes, as of April 1st, 2019, every patient will be required by the MMCC to have a Maryland Cannabis Card.

Yes, after receiving a written certification, we can apply for a card on your behalf if you wish or you can login to your MMCC account and apply for one there. Be sure to have your credit or debit card available for payment. Your Patient ID Card will be mailed to you. Patient ID Cards are optional and are currently not required in order for patients to participate in the program. Only a valid MMCC ID number is necessary. ​​​​

At this time the District of Columbia is not dispensing medical cannabis to any Maryland resident.

To apply or order an ID card, log into your MMCC account and click on the “Order ID Card” tab. Your MMCC ID card will expire on the date of your current registration. Once you are certified by us your MMCC ID cards will automatically be mailed to you. A temporary ID will be emailed once a new patient has been certified. This temporary ID will be valid for a period of 90 days. Each patient will have the option to print the temporary card when logging into your MMCC account.

There will be a process to apply for a replacement card. We can help you process your ID card through the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.

No more than 120 grams or approximately four ounces, unless a physician makes a special determination that a patient needs more.

Yes, 36 grams of THC.

Yes, if a Maryland-licensed processor produces the cannabis oil.

Federal law (HIPAA) requires that we — along with the MMCC and dispensaries — protect patient privacy and confidentiality. The MMCC database will meet HIPAA standards and protect patient confidentiality.

Patients only appoint caregivers. If a patient selects you to be a caregiver, we can register you through the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s caregiver registry, which will open during the first quarter of 2017. Caregivers CANNOT care for more than five qualifying patients.

Caregivers must be 21 years old or older

Yes, a caregiver may be a family member.

A patient may designate up to two persons as caregivers. The caregivers must register through the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s caregiver registry in which we can offer our assistance.

No, Maryland law will not allow this.

A legal patient may travel to any location in the state of Maryland (other than federal government property when in possession of medical cannabis). Possession of cannabis is a violation of federal law and Maryland residents should carefully read the current state statutes regarding the use of medical cannabis and be aware that taking cannabis across State lines is a federal offense. Cannabis is also illegal on federal government property. The State of Maryland laws cannot authorize you to travel to other states, jurisdictions or countries with this medicine in your possession.

Children who meet their physician’s criteria for treatment can become legal patients in Maryland. However, children must have a parent or guardian serve as a caregiver.

Veterans can obtain medical cannabis in the same way as other patients, but not from the Veterans Affairs health system. Veterans need to make sure that using medical cannabis will not disqualify them from Veterans Affairs health system procedures they might need.

The patient who changes their address should notify the Commission within 3 days. It can be done easily by visiting the Commission’s website.

Providing any financial relief for patients will be a decision made by individual dispensaries.

There are no reduced fees for seniors.

A patient may obtain medical cannabis from a dispensary of their choice. The patient’s written certification will be recorded in the Commission’s database and can be confirmed by any licensed dispensary.

Patients do not have to disclose that they possess medical cannabis and do not have to consent to a search. However, if a search is conducted and medical cannabis is found, the patient should present their patient ID card or direct law enforcement to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s database.

Medical cannabis will be available in forms, which can be vaporized which is not smoking, or as extracts, lotions, ointments, tinctures, etc. Some extracts can be added to foods at home. Edible cannabis products will not be available from dispensaries in Maryland.

Edibles and additional medical conditions may be added at a later date, pending enactment of new legislation and regulations. Before a patient can receive medical cannabis at a dispensary, the patient has to sign a statement (“attest”) that the patient understands, among other things, that “scientific research has not established the safety of the use of medical cannabis by pregnant women,” and that the use of medical cannabis is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Yes, the Commission believes that these statements will reinforce the need for caution to protect against the misuse of medical cannabis obtained from Maryland dispensaries. The Commission reviewed the studies that have been published regarding cannabis use and pregnancy and determined that this warning is an accurate statement of the conclusions that can be made from the scientific evidence, and is sufficient to guide patients to be cautious.

You can discuss this question with your physician on our team.

Maryland law does not prevent an employer from testing for use of cannabis (for any reason) or taking action against an employee who tests positive for use of cannabis (for any reason).

You can discuss this question with your physician on our team.

Patients often seek a second opinion from another physician. Patients may have a complex medical condition that is not responding well to conventional treatment or find the side effects and risks of a treatment are unacceptable. A patient may establish a bona fide physician patient relationship with any licensed Maryland physician who is in good standing, who is or plans to register with the Medical Cannabis Commission in order to be evaluated to determine if the patient will benefit from the use of medical cannabis.

Yes, the Commission’s database system does link the physician and patient registries through the written certifications. Each patient may only have one written certification and one certifying physician at a time. After 30 days, a patient may seek renewal of the written certification; the renewal certification supersedes the previous written certification. A certifying physician may terminate a written certification.

A physician must be registered as a certifying physician before providing a qualifying patient with a written certification. All of our physicians are registered with the State Medical Board and the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.

Yes, a qualifying patient will receive a Commission-assigned patient number after registering through the Commission’s patient registry, which will open on April 10th 2017. The patient’s registered physician can then link to the patient by entering the patient’s assigned number on the Commission’s secure database, and issue an online certification for medical cannabis.

Patient name, address, date of birth, physician’s name, the date of patient qualification, and medical condition(s).

Yes, a physician may amend or revoke a certification on any medical grounds, if the patient no longer meets the physician’s inclusion criteria, or the patient now meets the physician’s exclusion criteria. Two examples of exclusion criteria are that the physician suspects that the patient is abusing cannabis or the patient is diverting cannabis to others.

One reason a physician may deny issuing a written certification is that the condition with which the patient presents is outside the field of practice and specialty of the physician. A reason that a physician may specify as an exclusion criterion, and terminate a written certification is that the physician has, in the course of his education and research, determined that the patient is not an appropriate patient for medical cannabis. A physician is free to define his or her exclusion criteria as narrowly or broadly as they think may be appropriate for their practice.

A written certification that is not used to purchase medical cannabis within 120 days of issuance becomes null and void.

Patients may only obtain a thirty (30) day supply at one time from a licensed dispensary.

The MMCC has issued 102 pre-approvals to companies to dispense medical cannabis, however, no final licenses have been awarded. The pre-approved companies are currently working through Stage Two of the approval process, which includes undergoing criminal background investigations, completing regulatory requirements, securing local zoning approvals, and compliance inspections by the MMCC. The Commissioners will vote for licensure in a public meeting once compliance with the regulatory requirements is complete. The MMCC anticipates that medical cannabis will be available to patients from a licensed dispensary in mid-to-late Summer 2017. As each dispensary is established and licensed, their locations will be posted on this page of the website.

Please note: You must complete and submit your entire online application in one session. You will not be able to save and complete the application at a later time. Before You Begin The following items are required to be uploaded to complete the online application: An electronic copy of a valid US federal or state government-issued photo ID and proof of Maryland address or patient’s treatment at a Maryland medical facility. This must be either a PDF or image (.jpg, .png or .gif) file not to exceed 3 MB in size. Maryland Residents must provide: Acceptable forms of identification: Driver’s license or Motor Vehicle Administration identification card (both front and back) Military ID Passport If the identification you provide is not a Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID card, then you must also provide proof of a Maryland address. Acceptable forms of proof of Maryland address: Utility bill Rental contract Property tax bill Bank statement Official documentation from Registrar documenting current enrollment and on-campus living status Acceptable forms of identification: Driver’s license or Motor Vehicle Administration identification card (both front and back) Military ID Passport Proof that the patient is in the State to receive medical treatment: The address of and a contact name for the Maryland medical facility where the patient is receiving treatment If registering a minor patient who does not have a government-issued photo ID, please upload the caregiver’s ID. An electronic copy of a clear photograph taken within six months of application. Please see detailed photo requirements below. You must have a valid, accessible email address. MMCC will use this to communicate with you. You will need to enter the last four digits of the patient’s Social Security Number. Please be sure to have this information available when completing the application. If the patient is a minor (under 18 years of age), you will also need the following: An electronic, notarized copy of the Minor Patient Form An electronic copy of official proof of guardianship for the minor patient, including birth certificate, adoption certificate or court order awarding guardianship The MMCC Caregiver ID Number for the caregiver to be identified during the registration process. This means that the caregiver must register and receive MMCC approval prior to registering a minor patient. If the patient is in hospice care, the patient 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 can be uploaded in either .jpg or .pdf format. Completing the Registration Process Once you have completed and submitted an online application form, a verification email will be sent to the email address you provided on your application. You must click the verification link in the email message to verify your email account. Without performing this step, your application is not complete. 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 in order to issue your written certification for medical cannabis. Photo Requirements The processing of your application will be delayed if you do not submit a photo that meets the requirements below. In general, your photo must look like a passport or driver’s license photo. Specifically, it must adhere to the following requirements: Must be in color 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 Taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera with nothing obscuring the face, such as a hat or sunglasses Taken with a neutral facial expression (preferred) or a natural smile, and with both eyes open Photo may not be digitally enhanced or altered to change your appearance in any way Important Notification:Effective January 1, 2019, MMCC requires a non-refundable $50 fee to be paid via credit or debit card when a patient application is submitted. Please select one option below to proceed.