Possession of Less than 10 grams of Marijuana in Maryland
In Maryland, possession or use of less than 10 grams of marijuana is not a criminal offense. Possession or use of up to 10 grams of marijuana is still illegal, however, and carries civil penalties.
Read the Law: Md. Code Ann. Criminal Law § 5-601 (link is external); § 5-601.1 (link is external)
Fines for possession of small amounts of marijuana
Because it is not classified as a crime, possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana does not result in arrest, jail time, or a criminal record. Possession or use of marijuana is not legal, but in these cases involving small amounts of marijuana, the penalties are civil in nature.
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Penalties under the new law |
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| First offense | Fine of $100 |
| Second offense | Fine of up to $250 |
| Third (or later) offense | Fine of up to $500 |
Court appearances and drug treatment
Under the new law, even though the possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana is not a criminal offense, violators who are under the age of 21 must appear in court and may be ordered to drug treatment. Violators who are 21 or older must appear in court after a third offense, and may be ordered into drug treatment.