Out-of-State Visitor Guide

Last verified: April 2026

What You Need to Buy

Maryland makes it simple for visitors. Walk into any of 103+ licensed dispensaries with:

• A valid government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older
• Cash (preferred at most dispensaries)

That’s it. No registration, no residency proof, no pre-approval, no medical card. Maryland accepts:

• Driver’s licenses from any US state or territory
• US passports and passport cards
• Military ID
• Tribal identification
• Foreign passports (any country)

You can buy up to the same limits as Maryland residents: 1.5 oz flower, 12g concentrate, or 750mg THC edibles per transaction.

Payment: Cash Is King

Cannabis is still federally illegal, which means major banks and credit card networks do not process cannabis transactions. In practice:

• Cash: Accepted everywhere, preferred everywhere. Bring it.
• Debit cards: Many dispensaries accept debit with a $3–5 surcharge per transaction (processed as a cashless ATM withdrawal)
• Credit cards: Not accepted at any Maryland dispensary
• On-site ATMs: Available at most dispensaries, typically $3–5 fee

Pro tip: Check the dispensary’s online menu before you go, add up your order, and bring that amount in cash plus 12% for tax. This avoids the ATM surcharge and speeds up checkout.

Getting to Dispensaries: Transit from DC

Many Maryland visitors are coming from DC, where regulated retail cannabis sales are prohibited under the federal Harris Rider. Here are the most common transit routes:

From Washington, DC

• Metro Red Line to Silver Spring — HerbaFi (8413 Ramsey Ave) is steps from the Silver Spring Metro station. 20-minute ride from downtown DC.
• Metro Red Line to Bethesda — Health For Life Bethesda (4909 Fairmont Ave) is a short walk from the Bethesda Metro station.
• Metro Green Line to Addison Road — Mary & Main (Capitol Heights) is near the Addison Road Metro station.
• Drive to Rockville — Potomac Holistics, gLeaf, and Trulieve are all on or near Rockville Pike. 30–45 minutes from DC.

From Baltimore/BWI

• MARC train from DC — Penn Line runs to Baltimore Penn Station, 60 minutes, dispensaries throughout the city
• Light Rail from BWI — Connects BWI Airport to downtown Baltimore for access to Federal Hill, Fells Point, and Hampden dispensaries

Dispensary Hours & Etiquette

• Legal hours: 8am–10pm maximum (most dispensaries operate 9am–9pm)
• Online ordering: Most dispensaries use Dutchie, Weedmaps, or Leafly for online menus and pre-orders. Order ahead for faster pickup.
• Curbside pickup: Available at most locations. Order online, park in the designated spot, show ID, get your order.
• Walk-ins: Welcome everywhere, but expect 10–20 minute waits on weekends at popular locations
• Tipping: $2–5 or 10–15% is standard and appreciated. Budtenders at Maryland dispensaries are knowledgeable and provide genuine recommendations.

What You Cannot Do

This is the section that keeps visitors out of trouble:

• Do not cross state lines. Taking Maryland cannabis to DC, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia is a federal offense — even if cannabis is legal in the destination state. This is the single most common visitor mistake.
• Do not bring cannabis to BWI Airport. Federal property, federal laws apply. CBP fines start at $4,000+.
• Do not consume in public. $50 fine for public smoking. No consumption in parks, on sidewalks, at restaurants, or in vehicles.
• Do not consume in your rental car. Driver and passengers are both prohibited from consuming in vehicles.
• Do not ship cannabis. Using USPS, FedEx, or UPS to send cannabis is a federal offense.
• Do not assume your hotel allows it. Most Maryland hotels prohibit cannabis use on their property. Edibles and vape pens consumed discreetly are the practical option.

Visitor-Friendly Dispensaries

These dispensaries are particularly well-suited for first-time visitors:

• HerbaFi (Silver Spring) — Steps from the Metro, easy for DC visitors
• CULTA (Federal Hill) — Baltimore’s flagship dispensary, great selection and knowledgeable staff
• Gold Leaf (Annapolis) — Luxury experience with an aroma gallery, statewide EV delivery
• Mary & Main (Capitol Heights) — First Black-owned, women-owned dispensary in the DMV, near Metro
• Positive Energy (Ocean City) — Drive-thru service, beach town convenience, rewards program

For the full dispensary directory by region, see Dispensary Directory. For price expectations, see Prices & Products.