Maryland is one of the states that has legalized recreational marijuana. This means that you don’t have to have a medical card to use it. It is not illegal to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal, recreational use.
In many ways, this means that marijuana is now viewed similarly to beer or wine. But this can lead to some questions. For instance, if you had friends over to watch a Ravens football game, you might not think twice about sharing alcoholic products, such as handing out beers at halftime. But what if you’ve purchased marijuana products? Are you allowed to share them or not?
There are some restrictions
You often can share these products, but there are restrictions you need to be aware of.
For example, you can share them, but you can’t do so in exchange for some type of compensation. This is because only dispensaries are allowed to sell marijuana. They are properly licensed and regulated by the state. Even if you grow your own marijuana, you can’t enter into illegal sales, so sharing needs to be something that is done for free and only in small amounts.
Similarly, you can’t share marijuana with anyone who is under 21 years old. That’s because even though these products are now legal for recreational use, people still have to be at least 21 to purchase or use them. Giving them to someone who is underage could open you both up to potential criminal charges.
Criminal defense options
Marijuana laws are changing, but you can see how arrests and criminal charges are still possible. If you find yourself in this position, be sure you understand your defense options.