Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 5-602
Manufacturing, distributing, possession with intent to distribute, or dispensing controlled dangerous substance
Effective Oct 1, 2025Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2005, c. 482, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; Acts 2006, c. 327, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2006; Acts 2009, c. 684, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; Acts 2015, c. 490, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 515, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 569, § 1, eff. May 25, 2017; Acts 2022, c. 26, § 4, eff. July 1, 2023; Acts 2022, c. 26, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2023; Acts 2025, c. 136, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.State of Maryland
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not:
- (1) distribute or dispense a controlled dangerous substance; or
- (2) possess a controlled dangerous substance other than cannabis in sufficient quantity reasonably to indicate under all circumstances an intent to distribute or dispense a controlled dangerous substance.
(b)
- (1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not possess cannabis in sufficient quantity reasonably to indicate under all circumstances an intent to distribute or dispense cannabis.
- (2) Possession of the civil use amount of cannabis or the personal use amount of cannabis without other evidence of an intent to distribute or dispense does not constitute a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(c)
(1)
- (i) In this subsection, “adult sharing” means transferring cannabis between persons who are 21 years of age or older without remuneration.
(ii) “Adult sharing” does not include instances in which:
- 1. cannabis is given away contemporaneously with another reciprocal transaction between the same parties;
- 2. a gift of cannabis is offered or advertised in conjunction with an offer for the sale of goods or services; or
- 3. a gift of cannabis is contingent on a separate reciprocal transaction for goods or services.
- (2) This section does not prohibit, and no civil or criminal penalty may be imposed for, adult sharing of the personal use amount of cannabis.
Added by Acts 2002, c. 26, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2002. Amended by Acts 2005, c. 482, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; Acts 2006, c. 327, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2006; Acts 2009, c. 684, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2009; Acts 2015, c. 490, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 515, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 569, § 1, eff. May 25, 2017; Acts 2022, c. 26, § 4, eff. July 1, 2023; Acts 2022, c. 26, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2023; Acts 2025, c. 136, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.
Formerly Art. 27, § 286.