Maryland has changed how it treats marijuana possession, but growing cannabis remains a serious legal matter. If you’re accused of operating a marijuana grow without a license, you could be facing felony charges—even if the plants were for personal use. 

At Hartman Attorneys at Law, we defend individuals charged with marijuana cultivation and related offenses in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and throughout Maryland. Don’t tackle cultivation charges alone. Contact us today to get started with a seasoned drug crimes attorney.

Is Marijuana Cultivation Legal in Maryland?

Recreational marijuana is now legal in Maryland for adults over 21, but the law only allows limited personal possession. The right to use cannabis doesn’t automatically give you the right to grow it.

Currently, Maryland law permits adults to grow up to two cannabis plants at home, but only under certain conditions:

  • The grower must be 21 or older
  • The plants must be out of public view
  • They must be grown on the person’s primary residence
  • No more than two plants per household

Anything beyond that, or any unlicensed cultivation for sale or distribution, may be treated as a criminal offense. The state must license medical cannabis growers. If you don’t meet these requirements, you could be charged with manufacturing a controlled substance or possession with intent to distribute.

What Are the Penalties for Marijuana Cultivation?

Growing marijuana without proper authorization can carry steep consequences, especially when prosecutors believe you intended to sell it. The penalties vary depending on the circumstances, but standard charges include:

  • Possession with intent to cultivate or distribute
  • Manufacture of a controlled substance
  • Distribution within a school zone
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia (lights, hydroponics, packaging materials)

Convictions can result in:

  • Felony charges
  • Up to five years in prison (or more, depending on the amount grown)
  • Thousands of dollars in fines
  • Forfeiture of grow equipment, cash, or even your home

A single grow room with lights, timers, and a handful of plants could be enough to trigger a felony case, mainly if other evidence is found nearby.

How Law Enforcement Builds a Cultivation Grow Case

Police and prosecutors often rely on patterns and equipment to make cultivation cases. Whether the setup is in a basement, spare room, or outdoor shed, certain red flags may draw law enforcement’s attention:

  • Strong odor of marijuana
  • High electricity usage
  • Use of grow lights, hydroponic systems, or ventilation equipment
  • Tips from neighbors or mail carriers
  • Surveillance drones or thermal imaging
  • Suspicious deliveries of soil, lights, or timers

In many cases, police will seek a search warrant before entering a property. However, not all warrants are valid, and not all searches are conducted in accordance with proper legal procedures. That’s where an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer can make a difference.

How Hartman Attorneys at Law Can Help

If you’re charged with marijuana cultivation in Maryland, your defense starts with understanding how the evidence was obtained. At Hartman Attorneys at Law, we review every search, every statement, and every procedural step taken by the police. If your rights were violated, we’ll file motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence and push to weaken the state’s case.

In cultivation cases, we may be able to argue:

  • You did not know the grow setup
  • The plants belonged to someone else
  • The search was illegal or exceeded the warrant
  • The quantity does not support an intent to distribute
  • You complied with personal-use grow limits

Our attorneys have extensive experience in criminal defense, including cases involving drug manufacturing and controlled substances. We represent clients in both state and federal court and are ready to defend your freedom, your property, and your future.

Annapolis Drug Crimes Attorneys

If you’re being investigated or have already been charged with marijuana cultivation, turn to Hartman Attorneys at Law.  We know how drug charges are prosecuted in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and surrounding areas. Whether your case involves a small grow in your home or a larger operation, we’ll work with you to pursue the strongest defense possible. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Marijuana Cultivation

Maryland has changed how it treats marijuana possession, but growing cannabis remains a serious legal matter. If you’re accused of operating a marijuana grow without a license, you could be facing felony charges—even if the plants were for personal use. 

At Hartman Attorneys at Law, we defend individuals charged with marijuana cultivation and related offenses in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and throughout Maryland. Don’t tackle cultivation charges alone. Contact us today to get started with a seasoned drug crimes attorney.

Is Marijuana Cultivation Legal in Maryland?

Recreational marijuana is now legal in Maryland for adults over 21, but the law only allows limited personal possession. The right to use cannabis doesn’t automatically give you the right to grow it.

Currently, Maryland law permits adults to grow up to two cannabis plants at home, but only under certain conditions:

  • The grower must be 21 or older
  • The plants must be out of public view
  • They must be grown on the person’s primary residence
  • No more than two plants per household

Anything beyond that, or any unlicensed cultivation for sale or distribution, may be treated as a criminal offense. The state must license medical cannabis growers. If you don’t meet these requirements, you could be charged with manufacturing a controlled substance or possession with intent to distribute.

What Are the Penalties for Marijuana Cultivation?

Growing marijuana without proper authorization can carry steep consequences, especially when prosecutors believe you intended to sell it. The penalties vary depending on the circumstances, but standard charges include:

  • Possession with intent to cultivate or distribute
  • Manufacture of a controlled substance
  • Distribution within a school zone
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia (lights, hydroponics, packaging materials)

Convictions can result in:

  • Felony charges
  • Up to five years in prison (or more, depending on the amount grown)
  • Thousands of dollars in fines
  • Forfeiture of grow equipment, cash, or even your home

A single grow room with lights, timers, and a handful of plants could be enough to trigger a felony case, mainly if other evidence is found nearby.

How Law Enforcement Builds a Cultivation Grow Case

Police and prosecutors often rely on patterns and equipment to make cultivation cases. Whether the setup is in a basement, spare room, or outdoor shed, certain red flags may draw law enforcement’s attention:

  • Strong odor of marijuana
  • High electricity usage
  • Use of grow lights, hydroponic systems, or ventilation equipment
  • Tips from neighbors or mail carriers
  • Surveillance drones or thermal imaging
  • Suspicious deliveries of soil, lights, or timers

In many cases, police will seek a search warrant before entering a property. However, not all warrants are valid, and not all searches are conducted in accordance with proper legal procedures. That’s where an experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyer can make a difference.

How Hartman Attorneys at Law Can Help

If you’re charged with marijuana cultivation in Maryland, your defense starts with understanding how the evidence was obtained. At Hartman Attorneys at Law, we review every search, every statement, and every procedural step taken by the police. If your rights were violated, we’ll file motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence and push to weaken the state’s case.

In cultivation cases, we may be able to argue:

  • You did not know the grow setup
  • The plants belonged to someone else
  • The search was illegal or exceeded the warrant
  • The quantity does not support an intent to distribute
  • You complied with personal-use grow limits

Our attorneys have extensive experience in criminal defense, including cases involving drug manufacturing and controlled substances. We represent clients in both state and federal court and are ready to defend your freedom, your property, and your future.

Annapolis Drug Crimes Attorneys

If you’re being investigated or have already been charged with marijuana cultivation, turn to Hartman Attorneys at Law.  We know how drug charges are prosecuted in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and surrounding areas. Whether your case involves a small grow in your home or a larger operation, we’ll work with you to pursue the strongest defense possible. Contact us today for a free consultation.