The most vulnerable Maryland Cannabis patients have limited access to life-saving medications due to the absence of school access and limiting caregiver laws. This needs to change in 2020! This website and the Facebook page have been created as a tool to disseminate information about the upcoming push to change Maryland laws so that Raina and the other most vulnerable patients (MVPs) have access to their medications in all settings. 
​We can be reached for questions or comments at [email protected]

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  • In 2014, Maryland legislatively established the Medical Cannabis program. The first dispensary opened in December 2017. 
  • The caregiver law for MINORS states that ONLY a parent or legal guardian may be the child's caregiver. This severely limits the access to minors. For example, they cannot have another responsible adult purchase or transport their medication. 
  • Maryland law allows patients to have up to two MMCC caregivers. A caregiver must be at least 21 years of and may purchase, transport, manipulate (e.g. make thinner oil or edibles), and dose the patient. This is limiting in situations where a spouse may be transporting and an adult child may be purchasing. Help from other adults would improve access. 
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SCHOOL ACCESS​
  • The Maryland State Department of Education has stated that as there is no law allowing cannabis on school grounds, no form nor type of cannabis is allowed on school grounds. 
  • If a student requires cannabis during school hours, the only choice is for the registered caregiver (parent or legal guardian) 1) go to school, 2) take the student off of school grounds, 3) administer cannabis medication and 4) return the student to school. This is dangerous for students who use medical cannabis as a rescue medication and impractical for parents who work or have other responsibilities which make coming to school difficult. 
  • School access must include before and after school care as well as the bus. Where ever a child can receive any other medication, he or she should be able to receive medical cannabis. 
  • Cannabis is one of the safest medications with no known toxic amount. In fact, it's much safer than Tylenol which can cause liver toxicity. Further, there are no receptors for cannabis in the brain stem (that controls important things like breathing and heart rate) which is why it's impossible to overdose on cannabis. 
  • Did you know that Maryland has laws in place for students to receive narcotics at school (as prescribed by their doctors)? 
  • Cannabis comes in many forms including tinctures, tablets, inhalers, nebulizers, etc. (not all are currently available in Maryland dispensaries). Medical cannabis often looks very much like other medicine. 
HOME & MEDICAL ACCESS 
  • Agencies such as hospitals, hospice, home care, rehab, etc.,  are able to register with the MMCC after developing an "Operating plan  (which includes) - Patient verification method, safety protocols for receiving/storing/administering medical cannabis, tracking methods, and diversion prevention." 
  • The registration process/form can be found on the MMCC website: https://mmcc.seamlessdocs.com/f/MedicalFacilityRegistration
  • It is legal in Maryland for a patient to have cannabis with him or her in a medical facility. In fact, MD Code § 13-3313 protects the facility and employees: " (a) Any of the following persons acting in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle may not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or any civil or administrative penalty, including a civil penalty or disciplinary action by a professional licensing board, or be denied any right or privilege, for the medical use of cannabis:....(7) A hospital, medical facility, or hospice program where a qualifying patient is receiving treatment."
  • Your medical facility and/or provider is likely unaware that legally you can have your medicine with you.
  • Many medical facilities have policies in place that disallow you to have your cannabis on-site. Now is the time to start talking to your providers and updating them regarding Maryland law. While they are private facilities and can set their own in-house policies, it's important to know you are not breaking the law if you are certified MMCC patient. ​

How do we fix it? 

Schools:
  • Review the laws in other states and develop a better program. 
  • Our law must include: Cannabis, in all forms, can be stored AND administered as any other medication is administered for that school district. 


​Caregivers:
  • Increase the number of allowed caregivers to 4 for all registered patients.  
  • Allow parents to add another adult caregiver to a minor patient.
  • Allow for cannabis to be administered as recommended by the caregiver by anyone having primary care and supervision of an MMCC patient.

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