Frequently Asked Questions

MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND PRODUCTS THAT HAVE THC AND CBD ARE LEGAL AND IN HIGH DEMAND

HOURS OF OPERATION

Doors may close at 8:30pm depending on wait times to ensure all transactions are finalized by 9pm. We encourage you to arrive before 8:30pm or you may be turned away if the wait is too long. The MCA does not allow any transactions after our hours of operation.

AGE & POSSESSION LIMITS

Medical Patients
Cannabis can be purchased by qualifying registered medical patients or caregivers aged 18 and older with a valid ID. You must apply for your card with the MCA and renew your annual certification with a qualifying caregiver. 

Here are the legal limits for Maryland medical cannabis:

  • One hundred twenty grams (120) of usable marijuana (flower) is the maximum a qualifying patient can possess at one time; or
  • Thirty-Six (36) grams of concentrate/extract can be purchased per 30-day period.
  • No limits on paraphernalia (pipes, lighters, rolling papers etc.)

Adult Use
Cannabis can be purchased by any adult 21 years or older with valid ID. Here are the legal limits for Maryland Adult Use Cannabis:

  • 1.5 ounces of usable cannabis products as defined in COMAR 14.17.01; or
  • 12 grams of concentrated cannabis products; or
  • Edible cannabis products that do not exceed 750 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol. 
  • No limits on paraphernalia (pipes, lighters, rolling papers etc.)
MEDICAL ONLY AMENITIES

Our delivery service will remain in effect for medical patients only until June 2024, per the new MCA regulations. In July 2024 all dispensaries have been ordered by the MCA to cease medical delivery.  

Our curbside service will remain in effect for medical patients only.

CANNABIS STORAGE

Always ensure you keep any Cannabis products stored safely and securely out of reach of children, minors, and pets.

TRAVEL

Although cannabis is legal in Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, Washington and The District of Columbia, transporting any Schedule 1 drug (like cannabis in any form) across state lines is a federal offense.

PUBLIC CONSUMPTION

Although medical use and recreational cannabis consumption is legal in Maryland for qualifying patients and adults over the age of 21, we caution people from openly consuming any form of it within view of the public. Additionally, cannabis smoking is prohibited in certain private areas such as universities, workplaces, and rental properties. Cannabis may never be consumed on dispensary premises in any form.

SMOKING AND DRIVING

Cannabis impairs reflexes and judgment, like alcohol or some prescription medicines. Enjoy cannabis responsibly and respect the other drivers on the road. Do not medicate with cannabis and drive! Call a friend, Uber, Lyft, taxi, or wait until you are sober. Open container laws apply to cannabis in the same way they apply to alcohol. Keep cannabis products in their original, sealed package in your car.

EMPLOYEE DRUG TESTS

Companies can still prohibit their employees from cannabis usage, and can still drug test. Read your company’s employee manual to know your rights.

FLOWER STORAGE TIPS

Store your cannabis flower in a glass jar or Polypropylene FDA Compliant & BPA Free container away from the sun, bright lights, moisture, and heat to keep it fresh and potent. Try to minimize the handling of the flowers. Use a grinder to prepare flower prior consumption. It will burn more uniformly.

  1. Airtight. Pick a container that fits the flower quantity without too much extra air. Plastic bags are not advised as they are too permeable and may allow products to get crushed. Hard containers that keep out air and light are best.
  2. Humidity control. Keep containers free of outside moisture to preserve flavor and potency. Optimum relative humidity is between 59% and 63%. We recommend the use of a humidity control packet placed inside the container.
  3. Cool temp. Ideally, cannabis flower should be stored between 40 to 80 degrees F.  While some cannabis-infused edibles hold up well in the freezer, most other cannabis products degrade in freezing temperatures. Heat will also degrade the potency and flavor of your cannabis. Store in a cool and preferably dark place. 
VAPE CARTRIDGE

Store your cannabis vape cartridges with the mouthpiece upright (a drinking glass or cup holder works great) and detach it from your pen when not in use. If your cartridge clogs, try blowing into the mouthpiece while pushing the button to activate the vape to clear out accumulated oil.

AGREEMENTS AND POLICIES

Click here to view Gold Leaf Policies including cancellations, returns and deliveries.

UNDERSTANDING THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF CANNABIS

Many of us have faced moments when chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression or any other number of other conditions seemed to overshadow every aspect of our lives, beginning to creep past affecting just ourselves but also our relationships, work, and general enjoyment of life.

Thankfully, cannabis offers a beacon of hope for those who are suffering and have been let down by side effects of pharmaceuticals or lack of improvement. The key to this lies in cannabinoids and terpenes – the two compounds that work together to reduce pain and inflammation, improve mood, ease anxiety, aid in sleep, or help in many other ways. By adjusting their levels and ratios through selective breeding and hybridization, the cannabis strain can be customized to offer precise therapy, tailored to each individual’s condition and situation. The main way this is represented is through flavor profiles from different terpenes, and the concentration of THC, the euphoric “head high” cannabinoid, and CBD, which is the 120+ other chemical components of the plant.

This customization allows patients to experience relief, ideally with fewer side effects compared to traditional pharmaceuticals, fostering a more stable approach to health. Additionally, the ability to try other strains of cannabis or forms of administration enhances patient autonomy in managing their health, contributing to a more personalized and effective plan of care.

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST STEPS TO CANNABIS-ASSISTED THERAPY

Discovering the best strains for each individual can be an exciting venture, but can also feel daunting with all of the options. The easiest place to start is with two simple questions: what condition requires the most attention and what side effects are least desirable to experience?

This can establish a baseline when speaking with dispensary staff and help narrow down on specific strains. The best example of this is when discussing the treatment of pain, one of the most common conditions cannabis is used for (Li et al., 2019; Longo et al., 2021).

THE SPECTRUM OF RELIEF: UNDERSTANDING CANNABIS STRAINS FOR PAIN

Each marijuana strain has unique properties that set it apart from other strains and mainly depends on the type of pain being treated. Does the pain stem from a physical source, like muscle spasms, work or sports injuries, chronic conditions, endometriosis, or low back pain, or from a neurological origin, such as diabetic neuropathy, radiculopathy, fibromyalgia, neuropathy/neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia? Each condition has a differing intensity of pain and requires a different approach to treatment.

Indica strains are renowned for their ability to ease muscle pain and promote relaxation, with Afghan Kush standing out as a good recommendation. A close second is Bubba Kush, which is highly effective against nerve pain and muscle strain specifically. While Indica strains are potent pain relievers, they can cause sedation, making it difficult for use during daytime activities.

As a counterpart, Sativa strains are able to offer the same neuropathic pain management, but with an energetic boost, allowing for daytime use without feeling the sedation side effect. Notable strains include Durban Poison and East Coast Sour Diesel. However, due to the rarity of pure sativa strains, most available products are hybrid strains which combine sativa and indica strains to mix and match the benefits.

HYBRID STRAINS: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

For those seeking a balanced experience, hybrid strains combine the best aspects of indica and sativa. Blackberry Kush is a prime example, offering a solution for inflammation and physical pain. Its pain-relieving properties are complemented by a mild stimulating, psychoactive effect, ensuring pain management without overwhelming sedation. Similarly, Cataract Kush merges pain relief with a gentle euphoria, making it an excellent choice for managing severe pain while maintaining some level of activity.

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF CANNABIS

Cannabis not only has shown benefits for pain relief, but has shown to work well in treating many other conditions. The same effects of Sativa and Indica strains that cause sedation and energy can be harnessed to boost creativity, improve focus, ease insomnia, manage anxiety and depression, mitigate the side effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), aid as an adjunct therapy for schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions, and have shown positive effects for other neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Tourette syndrome (Bhagavan et al., 2020; Botsford et al., 2019; Earl & Proano, 2022; Ergisi et al., 2022; Haddad et al., 2022; Hoch et al., 2019; Lacroix et al., 2022, Mecha et al., 2020).

Particularly in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, cannabis has been effective in reducing nausea and vomiting (Mortimer et al., 2019; Rock et al., 2021), enhancing the quality of life, minimizing weight loss (Rosager et al., 2020), and maintaining the ability to continue with treatment. For those with glaucoma, it can reduce intraocular pressure, providing relief and potentially slowing the progression of the condition (MacMillan et al., 2019).

YOUR HEALING JOURNEY

The discussion so far has only touched on the surface of available strains with each having nuanced effects and experiences. Regardless of whether you lean towards an indica, sativa, or hybrid strain, the key is to listen to your body and work closely with your dispensary staff or cannabis-wise healthcare provider. It is important to remember that cannabis can have some effect on medications for other conditions, so it is always advised you discuss with your regular doctor to determine if there are any direct concerns for your individual health. When in doubt, ask dispensary staff to connect you to the Clinical Director each dispensary in the state of Maryland is required to employ.