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Are peptides legal in Maryland?
Maryland leaves peptides in a legal gray zone: it has no peptide-specific ban, and compounded peptides are governed by the state Board of Pharmacy under the federal 503A and 503B framework, so lawful access runs through a prescription and a licensed pharmacy.
Legal status overview
Maryland leaves peptides in a legal gray zone, with no peptide-specific statute or ban and regulation instead flowing through the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and the federal FDA compounding framework. Compounded medications may be dispensed only for a specific patient on a valid prescription, and Maryland permits telehealth prescribing of prescription drugs. After the FDA declared the semaglutide shortage resolved in early 2025, routine compounding of GLP-1 copies lost its shortage-based footing, though narrow patient-specific exceptions can remain. Separately, in May 2025 the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board voted to set an upper payment limit on the brand product Ozempic® (semaglutide) for certain state-regulated payers.
Key points
- Maryland has no peptide-specific statute or outright ban; compounded peptides are governed by the Maryland Board of Pharmacy operating within the federal 503A and 503B framework, so lawful access requires a prescription and a licensed pharmacy. [1]
- After the FDA declared the semaglutide shortage resolved in early 2025, 503A and 503B pharmacies lost the shortage basis for compounding GLP-1 copies, with only narrow patient-specific exceptions such as a documented allergy to an ingredient in the approved product. [1]
- The FDA has moved to permanently close the door on compounded GLP-1 copies now that the shortage is over, citing hundreds of adverse-event reports tied to compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide. [1]
- In May 2025 the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board voted to set an upper payment limit on the brand product Ozempic® (semaglutide) for certain payers under Maryland authority, affecting reimbursement rather than the retail list price. [2]
- BPC-157 is not FDA-approved; an FDA advisory committee voted 8 to 6 in July 2026 to recommend adding it to a compounding list, but the vote is non-binding and still needs FDA sign-off and rulemaking. [3]
- Removal of BPC-157 and TB-500 from the FDA Category 2 list in April 2026 is not the same as permission to compound them; they cannot be lawfully compounded under Section 503A on that basis alone. [4]
- Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, are not a generic, and are not evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before dispensing. [1]
Compound-by-compound status
| BPC-157 Gray area | Not FDA-approved and no USP monograph. A July 2026 FDA advisory committee vote (8 to 6) recommended a compounding pathway, but it is non-binding and not finalized. Lawful in Maryland only via a valid prescription through a licensed pharmacy, and any compounded product is not FDA-approved, not a generic, and not evaluated by the FDA. |
|---|---|
| GLP-1 class (compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, e.g. copies of Wegovy® (semaglutide), Ozempic® (semaglutide), Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), Zepbound® (tirzepatide)) Restricted | FDA-approved brand products are legal on prescription, including via telehealth. Compounding copies lost its shortage basis in 2025 and survives only under narrow patient-specific exceptions. Compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved, not a generic, and not evaluated by the FDA. |
| TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment) Gray area | Not FDA-approved and no USP monograph; removed from the FDA Category 2 list in April 2026 without authorization to compound. Lawful only via valid prescription through a licensed pharmacy, and any compounded form is not FDA-approved, not a generic, and not evaluated by the FDA. |
| Growth hormone / somatropin Restricted | Legal only as an FDA-approved prescription drug dispensed through a licensed Maryland pharmacy. Federal law limits human growth hormone distribution to FDA-approved uses, so non-prescription or performance sale is prohibited. |
Frequently asked questions
Are peptides legal in Maryland?
Maryland has no peptide-specific ban, so peptides sit in a gray zone governed by the Maryland Board of Pharmacy and the federal FDA framework. Lawful access is through a valid prescription filled by a licensed pharmacy. This is information, not medical or legal advice.
Can I get compounded semaglutide through telehealth in Maryland?
Maryland permits telehealth prescribing of prescription drugs. After the FDA resolved the shortage in 2025, compounding of GLP-1 copies is limited to narrow patient-specific exceptions. Compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved, not a generic, and not evaluated by the FDA; FDA-approved products such as Wegovy® (semaglutide) can be prescribed.
What did the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board do about Ozempic®?
In May 2025 the board voted to set an upper payment limit on the brand product Ozempic® (semaglutide) for certain payers under Maryland authority, which affects reimbursement for regulated payers rather than the retail list price.
Is BPC-157 legal to compound in Maryland?
BPC-157 is not FDA-approved. A July 2026 FDA advisory committee vote recommended a compounding pathway, but it is non-binding and not yet finalized, so it cannot be routinely compounded on that basis today.
Who regulates peptides in Maryland?
The Maryland Board of Pharmacy, with pricing actions from the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board, operating within the FDA framework and Sections 503A and 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Sources
- FDA Moves to Permanently Close the Door on Compounded GLP-1s - Pharmacy Times (retrieved 2026-09-21)
- Maryland Caps Ozempic® Prices: Patient Impact Guide (Maryland Drug Affordability Board) (retrieved 2026-09-21)
- FDA advisory committee votes to add popular peptide BPC-157 to drug compounding list - ABC News (retrieved 2026-09-21)
- BPC-157 in 2026: Why Regulatory Limbo Is Not the Same as a Green Light - Holt Law (retrieved 2026-09-21)
Last researched: 2026-09-21.