Cannabis And Drugs
Crim. Law § 5-601 — legal for adults 21 and over up to the personal use amount, 1.5 ounces
21 and over, up to the personal use amount. Possessing cannabis is not a crime in Maryland for an individual at least 21 years old who holds no more than the personal use amount.
| Personal use amount | Civil use amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Usable cannabis | Personal use amountUp to 1.5 ounces | Civil use amountOver 1.5 up to 2.5 ounces |
| Concentrated cannabis | Personal use amountUp to 12 grams | Civil use amountOver 12 up to 20 grams |
| Products with THC | Personal use amountUp to 750 milligrams | Civil use amountOver 750 up to 1,250 milligrams |
| Plants | Personal use amountTwo or fewer | Civil use amount |
| Cannabis offense | What it is | Penalty up to |
|---|---|---|
| Cannabis offensePersonal use amount, under 21 | What it isCivil offense | Penalty up to$100 fine |
| Cannabis offenseCivil use amount | What it isCivil offense | Penalty up to$250 fine |
| Cannabis offenseSmoking in a public place, first | What it isCivil offense | Penalty up to$50 fine |
| Cannabis offenseSmoking in a public place, second or later | What it isCivil offense | Penalty up to$150 fine |
| Cannabis offenseMore than the civil use amount | What it isMisdemeanor | Penalty up to6 months, a $1,000 fine, or both |
An officer with probable cause of a personal or civil use amount violation issues a citation. The adjudication is not a criminal conviction for any purpose, and the person may request a trial within 30 days. A person under 21 is summoned for trial and may not prepay the fine.
Possessing any other controlled dangerous substance without a prescription is a misdemeanor carrying up to 1 year or $5,000 for a first conviction, up to 18 months for a second or third, and up to 2 years for a fourth or later. Before sentencing, the court may order an assessment for substance use disorder, and where it finds treatment is needed it generally suspends the sentence for probation and treatment.
Sources for this section (3)
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 5-601 — Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 5-101 — Controlled dangerous substances: definitions, including cannabis amounts
- Md. Code, Crim. Law § 5-601.1 — Cannabis citations and civil offenses
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.