It started off as every other Wednesday. I was at the park near my house getting a quick workout in. In between exercises I started to check my email. Most of it was junk. But then, “Wait..”, I said in my head. Or maybe out loud? I can’t remember. It was from some random ‘do not reply’ email address, with the subject line reading “Notification: Application Approved”. Instantly the biggest feeling of relief washed over me. Today was no other Wednesday, it was the first day of the rest of my life.

Okay, that might be dramatic, but hear me out. I was never much of a drinker, which would really surprise some people considering my family history. I first smoked pot in high school with a few close friends at a sleepover. I had to have been 16 years old at this point. I’m 99% sure we smoked out of a coke can and blew the smoke out of her bedroom window. We laughed until we cried. I was the absolute best version of myself that night, without a care in the world other than enjoying that exact fleeting moment in my life. Thus started my habitual cannabis use.

I’ve now been smoking weed for the better half of my life. Mostly recreationally- but I’ve found that it also helps with my chronic migraines, generalized anxiety, and hypoglycemia. Someone recently asked me when I was going to stop smoking and it really rubbed me the wrong way. Why can’t I smoke a J at the end of a long day? Is it really any different than someone enjoying a glass of wine or a few beers? Why is there still such a stigma surrounding casual cannabis use? I did some serious research into becoming legal and ultimately made my decision after acquiring a bad batch of wax.

For me, the deciding factors were:

All the dispensary products are laboratory tested
I can get stuff whenever I want and I don’t have to wait for my guy to hit me back
I can get an array of products & use them when I see fit (i.e. Sativa in the AM, Indica in the PM)

Steps to becoming a legal cannabis patient in Maryland

Go get a passport photo taken. I went to CVS. Make sure it’s one that has a photo center!
Click here for a $2.00 coupon off your passport photo at any CVS
Create an account online with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission and register as a patient. This is where you will link your scanned passport photo, this step always messes people up.
There is a $50 non-refundable fee to apply. It’s also important to note that they can only accept a certain number of applications within a specific timeframe, therefore, getting your application approved by the state is the longest step.
You’ll get an email from the state letting you know your application was approved (it took me 6 weeks to get mine) and that’s when you can go to the doctor to get your prescription! Follow this link to see a full list of certified providers in the state of MD. I went to Urbn Holistic in Urbana and saw Mike. They have walk-in hours from 10am-4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The experience was so professional and seamless! I filled out a few intake forms and we sat down to discuss what I would be using the medical cannabis for. I explained that I had used cannabis in the past to treat my anxiety (for which I had previously been treating with Paxil). He made me feel comfortable, accepted, and even went on to discuss which strains he felt would be best for my anxiety & which ones I should steer clear of. He printed off my temporary prescription and 15 minutes later I was walking into my first dispensary.
Since I was already in Urbana, and I needed to commemorate my first day as a legal patient, I decided to go down the road to Kannavis and pick up a few treats for myself. I ran into a childhood friend who happened to work there and she welcomed me with the biggest smile. I felt relieved because, for someone with anxiety, this can be a very unnerving process. She took the prescription that I had just gotten and scanned my info into their system. She explained that since it was my first time I would also get 20% off today (awesome, but I should’ve brought more cash). It was maybe five minutes before I got called into the back where two bars are set up on either side of the room. There were registers lined on each side with little numbers in front of them. “I’ll take you at register one ma’am!”, said a young man with a bright smile on his face. I told him I wasn’t sure what I wanted and that it was my first time and he gave me the crash course. I was a little overwhelmed by the selection and all the information, but I ended up with a few pre-rolled joints of different hybrids to see which one I liked before buying a whole eighth.

Tips + Tricks I think might be useful

Dispensaries are cash-only , but most of them have ATM’s on-site
You’re not allowed to touch the products. If you have a question, just ask your bud tender.
Most dispensaries have their inventory online so you can narrow it down before you get there.
Weed Maps is my go-to site to browse local selections.
Check with your dispensary about discounts and deals! Kannavis has daily specials and a Kona Ice truck on Sundays :)