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Is Smoking Hemp Flower Legal In Maryland?
If you’re looking to buy CBD flower, or have questions about its legal status in your home state of Maryland, then this article is for you. We’ll talk about the history and legislature around industrial hemp farming, the legalities of buying and smoking hemp flower, and more.
Recent History of Industrial Hemp in Maryland
Industrial hemp is not all that new to the state of Maryland. Back in 2016, the State Department of Agriculture and Institutes of higher learning were able to grow and cultivate hemp for academic research purposes. This was made possible because of the 2014 Farm Bill passed by the federal government, under the Obama administration.
Then a few years later in 2018, the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program went into effect to authorize research of industrial hemp for the purpose of agricultural, industrial, or commercial use.
Not much longer, the Governor of Maryland signed HB1123 into law. This Bill essentially modified the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program and turned it into the Hemp Research Pilot Program. At this point, it was up to the Maryland Department of Agriculture to define the state’s hemp farming program laws by outlining the rules, regulations, and requirements necessary to apply for a hemp farming license.
In other words, farmers who wanted to grow industrial hemp for commercial reasons were able to do so. However, the state requires those applying for a hemp farming license to partner with an institution of higher learning, so they can perform research on the plants.
As far as the rules go, farmers are allowed to sell their crops, including hemp flower as they see fit. But, before doing so their plants must comply with federal regulations as specified under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018.
Here’s how the law defines hemp, “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”
At this point in time, there is no minimum number of acres a licensed farmer must grow on. And the same is true for growers. The state’s not limiting the number of licenses it grants.
Are hemp flowers legal in Maryland?
Yes. Hemp flowers in Maryland are legal as long as they contain less than 0.3% delta 9 THC. It’s legal to grow hemp in this state with a license, and it’s legal to buy, consume, and smoke hemp flower too.
It can get a little hairy when it comes to smoking hemp in public. But, we’ll address that soon enough.
Can I grow hemp flower, or do I have to buy it?
Based on the guidance outlined in Maryland’s Hemp Farming Program, only those with a license can legally grow hemp. This decision was made to prevent home growers from having their own crops and potentially selling them on the open market.
Even though you can’t grow any hemp plants in your backyard, you can buy it from a brand you trust or one with good rapport in the legal marketplace.
Is It Legal To Buy Hemp Flower Online?
Yes, as a Maryland resident, it’s legal for you to buy hemp flower online. In fact, it’s actually a good idea to buy CBD flower online because you’ll have way more choices than you would at a local dispensary or store.
But, there’s a bit more to the story than simply googling CBD hemp flower, and buying the first option that pops up. It takes a bit of patience, research, and detective work on your end, to ensure you’re only buying the best.
Maybe you’re not the type of person who cares whether your food is organic or not. However, when it comes to organic hemp flower vs non-organic hemp flower it’s kind of a big deal. Hear us out.
Most people who buy CBD nugs do so to smoke it. Of course, others buy it to make homemade CBD oil, salves, or edibles. But, for the large majority of consumers, want to smoke it. Here’s why the organic nature of your buds matters.
When you roll a joint, pack your vaporizer, or your pipe with ground-up herb and take a puff, hit, or inhale, the contents go straight to your lungs. If you smoke flower that contains pesticides, mold, yeast, heavy metals, solvents, and mycotoxins, how do you think your lungs are going to feel? Pretty upset, right? And also burdened by the toxic overload.
So, the point is, organic is better. And unlike racking up a monstrous bill at the health food store when buying all organic foods (not a bad thing of course), the cost of organic flower won’t set you back too much. There’s a premium to pay for premium hemp nugs, but not an excessive amount.
Plus, most reputable, decent CBD companies cut you a break on the price when you buy a large quantity, or in bulk. So, there’s always an opportunity to save yourself a few bucks if that’s a concern or reason you normally avoid organic.
Is Smoking Hemp Flower Legal in Maryland?
Yes. However, there’s something we must clarify first before you smoke hemp flower. You may know that the physical appearance and smell of hemp flower is almost identical to cannabis (aka marijuana). Although the high THC cannabis strains were unfairly demonized, the stigma still exists.
And not only is there a huge stigma there’s also the issue of legality. At the federal level, marijuana or weed is still very much illegal. So when you buy hemp flower pre-rolls or buy flower then grind and roll it up, it’s going to remind a lot of people of something you “shouldn’t” be smoking. The authorities could assume the same thing and think you’re smoking an illegal drug, even when you’re smoking legal hemp flower.
This is where discretion comes in. Until there’s a concrete and reliable way to test the THC levels of the flower in your joint, don’t smoke your CBD hemp buds in a public place. Only smoke where you feel comfortable and can enjoy the therapeutic effects without the worry or fear of getting “caught”.
What are the benefits of smoking hemp flower vs. consuming CBD oil?
Have you ever thought about the reasons some people love to smoke CBD flower while others prefer to consume hemp in a tincture, such as CBD oil? It’s a valid question and goes beyond what we may think.
Smoking hemp is the fastest way to feel the potential effects of CBD. And this has everything to do with inhalation. When we inhale, our lungs expand. While we inhale a substance like hemp flower, our lungs know that we’re breathing in more than just air.
This process explains how and why we feel something almost instantaneously. Some people who smoke hemp now never thought they’d ever smoke it because they’ve never smoked anything before. But, when they learned this key benefit, they felt compelled to at least give it a try.
Knowing there’s potential to feel better quickly and in a natural way is awesome and empowering. This alone could be the reason people choose to smoke flower. And in some cases, people like to use a combination of products.
For instance, they can smoke flower for the instant effects and follow up with CBD oil to get the longer-lasting effects that sublingual application offers.
What other hemp products are legal in Maryland?
Maryland allows residents to consume all types of CBD products as long as they meet the legal definition under the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. As we’ve discussed before, the main requirement of this law is the limitation of Delta 9 THC.
So, this means you can buy CBD tinctures, gummies, lotions, tea, pro-rolls, flower, and kief, as long as the contents of that product doesn’t have more than 0.3% THC.
In Summary
When it comes to growing and cultivating industrial hemp in the state of Maryland, that requires a license. But, when it comes to buying and consuming CBD products derived from hemp you’re free to do so.
However, make sure you buy from a brand with a good reputation, one that provides lab testing to show the exact CBD and THC levels, and uses a high-quality, organic source of hemp in its products. This is especially important when you want to buy CBD hemp flower buds to smoke.