Tag Archives: Maryland

On Friday, September 8, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) Office of Social Equity released additional information for its upcoming initial licensing round, including the social equity verification portal, application timeframe and deadlines, and the number of licenses available per county. The first round of licensing is limited to Social Equity Applicants.

Social Equity Verification Portal

Potential applicants who previously submitted the Cannabis Business Licensing Interest Form were granted access to the Social Equity Verification Portal on September 8,… More

Key Takeaways:

Maryland’s eligibility criteria to be considered a social equity applicant:

• An interactive map of the Disproportionately Impacted Areas in Maryland, qualifying public schools that remain open and institutions of higher education, is available on the Office of Social Equity’s (OSE) website.
• The OSE also provided the lists as PDFs: public schools, higher education institutions,…

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Adult-use cannabis is now legal and available in Maryland, but as so often happens, a group of businesses have filed a lawsuit because they do not like the way legalization has been implemented. Led by the Maryland Hemp Coalition, a group of farmers, retailers and consumers of hemp-derived products containing high concentrations of THC have sued the Governor of Maryland, the Maryland Cannabis Administration, the Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission and numerous individuals in their official capacities as employees of those entities.… More

With more than $10 million in retail sales during its opening weekend and more than $20 million in retail sales during the first week, Maryland’s adult-use cannabis market is open for business. Nearly 100 of Maryland’s existing medical cannabis dispensaries and 42 cultivators and manufacturers converted their licenses to now serve both medical patients and adult consumers, but this is just the beginning and new licenses are about to be available.… More

Last week the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MSA) released its draft emergency regulations for the state’s adult-use marijuana market which is set to come online on July 1. The draft regulations are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) and do not go into effect until approved by the AELR Committee and printed in the Maryland Register. The approval could come as soon as 10 business days after the AELR received the draft regulations.… More

Key Takeaways:

1. Amendments to Maryland House Bill (HB) 556, and its companion Senate Bill (SB) 516, provide clarification on essential provisions for persons or entities interested in participating in the cannabis industry in Maryland.
2. Both bills have crossed over and are expected to quickly pass the other chamber, and once a compromise version passes both chambers, it is expected that Governor Wes Moore (D) will sign into law.…

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• Recently introduced Maryland House Bill 556 contains essential provisions for persons or entities interested in participating in the cannabis industry in Maryland.
• On or before July 1, 2023, all current medical cannabis licensees in Maryland would be allowed to convert their licenses to medical and adult use.
• There would be a limited number of several types of new licenses issued.
• The first round of licensing,…

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The Maryland Senate has now approved legislation that puts a referendum before voters this November on whether Maryland should legalize adult-use cannabis and begin implementing a regulatory framework if the ballot question is approved. Maryland’s Republican governor announced he will not sign or veto the legislation, and will allow it to take effect without his signature.

As we previously discussed, even if voters approve the referendum,… More

The Maryland House of Delegates recently passed a bill that would put legalization of adult-use cannabis on the ballot this November. The bill, HB 1, passed 96-34 and is based on a plan first laid out by Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones last summer.  If passed by the Maryland Senate, the bill would let voters decide via referendum whether or not to amend the Maryland constitution thereby legalizing adult-use sales.… More