The Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced the recognition and medical use of marijuana April 23, according to a press release from the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs.
“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” said acting attorney general Todd Blanche in the press release.
The order came after an executive order by President Trump that asked the Attorney General to reschedule medical marijuana from a schedule I to a schedule III classification.
Businesses that make and sell medical cannabis products are likely to be among those most affected by the order, according to an analysis by the Cannabis Regulator Association.
The order allows medical marijuana businesses to file deductions for expenses and recommends relief for previous taxable years, though for non-medical marijuana businesses no tax deductions would be allowed, according to the analysis.
Purchasing medical marijuana with a proper medical card has been legal in Maryland since 2017, recreational marijuana was legalized in 2023. The federal order does not legalize or schedule recreational marijuana from a schedule I drug.
All Maryland cannabis laws still apply and the Maryland Cannabis Administration, “is working to clarify any aspects of the rescheduling Final Order and remains committed to providing timely and accurate information,” read a statement provided by the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
As the federal government changes their stance on medical marijuana here is where Maryland stands so far on key statistics.
Medical marijuana sales have decreased since recreational legalization in 2023
More than $100 million sales were made during the first year after medical marijuana was available legally, according to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
Since recreational marijuana legalization, medical marijuana sales have decreased each year, according to an analysis by Capital News Service of data from the Maryland Cannabis Administration.
Medical marijuana total sales made in 2025 were more than 23 percent less than 2024, according to CNS’ analysis of the data. Recreational sales increased about 14 percent between 2024 and 2025, the only range of sales data available for entire years.
Collected cannabis sales taxes increased about 24% between 2024 and 2025
All purchased recreational marijuana products have a 12 percent sales and use tax collected by Maryland (until July, 2025, the tax was nine percent). All medical marijuana products are exempt from this tax.
More than $190 million has been collected in cannabis taxes since recreational legalization in 2023, according to data from the Comptroller of Maryland.
In 2025, tax revenue collected increased more than $17 million, or about 24 percent, from 2024, according to a CNS analysis of cannabis tax revenue.
On average, more than $22 million cannabis tax revenue was collected every three months in 2025, a CNS analysis of cannabis tax revenue found. In 2024 an average of more than $18 million was collected every three months.
Almost all Maryland counties now have at least one licensed dispensary
Currently 21 counties, and Baltimore City, have at least one licensed dispensary, three more than when recreational marijuana was legalized. Kent and Caroline County saw their first licensed dispensaries in 2025 and a dispensary location was newly licensed in Somerset as of 2026.
Garrett and Talbot County are the only Maryland counties that do not have licensed dispensaries as of 2026 so far.
There were 10 more newly licensed dispensaries in 2025 compared to three in 2024, according to MCA licensure data. Seven newly licensed dispensaries were reported in 2026 so far, according to the MCA.
There were 96 initial dispensaries whose licenses began the day recreational marijuana was legalized in 2023, according to the MCA data. Licensed dispensaries now number 116 in Maryland.