Text your customers within Maryland’s cannabis advertising rules

Maryland has an adult-use and medical cannabis program

Retail licensing and advertising rules are enforced by the Maryland Cannabis Administration. For billboards, social media and other channels, see our cannabis advertising rules beyond texting.

These Maryland rules bear on texting customers

Dispensaries also need a consumer's express permission to build a customer profile from purchase records, must age-screen websites before collecting contact details such as phone numbers, and cannot avoid these limits by using a third party.

• Md. Code, Alc. Bev. §36-903(a)(1)(iv) prohibits advertising by television, radio, internet, mobile application, social media or other electronic communication unless at least 85% of the audience is reasonably expected to be at least 21.
• The Maryland Cannabis Administration lists email blasts and direct mail campaigns among the advertisements subject to the statutory restrictions (MCA Advertising Guidance (August 24, 2026)).
• A dispensary may not use an adult-use consumer's personal information, including purchase records, to create or maintain a customer profile without the consumer's express permission, and may not refuse a sale because the consumer declines consent (COMAR 14.17.12.04B(10)(a)-(b)).
• Cannabis-related websites must age-screen users as at least 21 before showing content and before collecting contact information, such as a phone number, to send advertisements (Md. Code, Alc. Bev. §36-903(b)(1)(i)).
• Licensees cannot avoid the advertising restrictions by hiring or contracting with a third party (Md. Code, Alc. Bev. §36-903(b)(3)).
• Advertising must not directly or indirectly target people under 21 or use designs, such as cartoon characters or mascots, that are attractive to minors (Md. Code, Alc. Bev. §36-903(a)(1)(ii) and (iii)).
• An advertisement that makes therapeutic or medical claims must be supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence and must include information on the most serious and most common side effects or risks (Md. Code, Alc. Bev. §36-902).
• A licensee may not offer cannabis or cannabis products as a prize or premium in a lottery, contest, game or competition (COMAR 14.17.20.02A(2)).
• A dispensary may not distribute samples of cannabis or cannabis products to consumers (COMAR 14.17.12.04C(3)).

Start with consent, your store name and an opt-out line

• Text only people who opted in, and keep the record of when and how they did. Our guide to SMS opt-in and consent for dispensaries covers what to record.
• Put your store name first and an opt-out line on every text.
• Keep product details, prices and offers on an age-gated page rather than in the text, and check the wording against our list of banned words in cannabis texts.

Sticky SMS, by Sticky Cards, the loyalty and marketing platform for cannabis dispensaries, files your 10DLC registration with The Campaign Registry, with no charge for the number or the registration, and most stores are live in 1 to 2 days. How Maryland’s rules apply to your program stays with you and your counsel.

Work with Sticky Cards in Maryland

• Run a dispensary, CBD or vape shop in Maryland? Book a demo to see Sticky SMS.
• Run a texting agency in Maryland? Sticky Cards is looking for expert texting partner agencies in Maryland. Email support@stickycards.co to talk about working together.