Frequently asked questions.

Yes. Maryland operates a state-regulated medical cannabis program through the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, which is worth knowing if it's relevant to your employment, housing, or travel.

Qualifying conditions under Maryland law include cachexia, anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma, PTSD, or another chronic medical condition that is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective. We'll discuss whether your condition qualifies during your visit.

Yes. You don't need to wait for your registration to finish before scheduling. You'll just need your MCA Patient ID before we can issue your written certification.

Your MCA patient registration is with the state directly and is valid for 6 years. Your written certification comes from us and is valid for 1 year (3 months for patients under 18), so it's renewed on a much shorter cycle than your registration.

Yes — we need to see documentation of your qualifying condition. Because certification means attesting that you have an established condition with ongoing care, our intake process collects proof of that condition before your visit.

You'll meet with your provider by secure video from wherever is convenient for you. We'll review your health history and medications, discuss your qualifying condition, and talk through whether medical cannabis is an appropriate treatment option.

Most visits run about 15–20 minutes, though your provider will take the time needed to properly evaluate you.

Video is required. Maryland law requires medical cannabis evaluations to be conducted by audio-visual telehealth or in person — an audio-only phone call doesn't meet that requirement.

Yes. This is especially common for minor patients, who are required to have a parent or legal guardian registered as their caregiver, but any patient is welcome to have support on the call.

Yes, with a parent or legal guardian registered as the minor's caregiver with the MCA. Written certifications for minors are valid for 3 months rather than 1 year, so renewal visits happen more frequently.

No. We don't bill or accept health insurance for certification or renewal visits — this is standard across medical cannabis practices, since insurance doesn't cover this type of care anywhere. See Pricing for current rates.

If we're not able to certify you, there's no charge — and if you've already paid, anything charged will be refunded.

You won't be charged. We'll talk through why, and what other options or follow-up might make sense for you.

A $50 no-show fee applies if you miss your visit without canceling or rescheduling at least 24 hours in advance.

Anything you're currently taking, especially sedatives or sleep medications, opioids, benzodiazepines, blood thinners, blood-pressure medications, diabetes medications, seizure medications, and psychiatric medications. This helps us flag potential interactions before you start.

It can, depending on the medication. We review your full medication list as part of every visit rather than assuming any particular interaction applies to you.

We provide guidance on dosing, route, and frequency as part of your visit. Specific product selection is typically guided by licensed dispensary staff, who know their current inventory.

This is an important safety question that deserves an individualized conversation rather than a generic answer — please raise it directly with your provider at your visit.

Cannabis can impair driving, and Maryland treats driving under the influence of cannabis like other impaired-driving offenses. Never drive if you feel impaired. This isn't legal advice — talk to your provider about how your specific product and dosage may affect you.

Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, and rules vary widely by state. We generally don't recommend traveling with cannabis outside Maryland. This is general information, not legal advice — consult an attorney if you have questions about a specific trip.

Potentially, yes. Federal law treats cannabis use as disqualifying for firearm purchases regardless of state legality, and this is a genuinely unsettled, evolving area. This is not legal advice — if this matters to you, we'd recommend speaking with an attorney before proceeding.

Your visit and health information are handled under the same HIPAA privacy protections as any other medical care. See our Notice of Privacy Practices for details.

Yes, for your cannabis therapy specifically — renewal visits and questions about how your cannabis treatment is working. We're your cannabis specialist, not a replacement for your primary care provider or any specialist managing your underlying condition, so please keep up with your regular care alongside seeing us.

Typically within minutes of your visit — we upload your certification to the MCA system immediately once it's complete.