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View all Cannabis and cannabinoids in Maryland
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Daily news alerts
Daily regulatory updates of legal changes in the cannabis sector, including monthly compilations
16th October 2023
US - Maryland: A judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop the enforcement of a new law that restricts the sale of hemp products that contain more than 0.5 mg of THC per serving or 2.5 mg of THC per package, press reports. The plaintiffs contend that the law is crippling the hemp industry by requiring that most hemp operators have a cannabis licence without allowing enough licences to support the industry. The judge reportedly took issue with the hemp industry being “immediately shut out of the market” and agreed that the new law effectively created a monopoly for the existing industry by only issuing a limited number of licences. The injunction suspends enforcement of this portion of the new law until the litigation is resolved.27th July 2023
US - Maryland: A group of hemp businesses are suing governor Wes Moore and state lawmakers over a new law that bans the sale of products containing more than 0.5 mg of THC per serving or 2.5 mg of THC per package, press reports. The Maryland Hemp Coalition argues that most hemp products on the market would fall above this threshold, requiring hemp operators to have a cannabis licence – and that there are not enough cannabis licences to accommodate the hemp industry, thereby crippling the hemp sector in the state.
29th May 2023
- US - Maryland: State officials have unveiled draft regulations for the state's adult-use cannabis market, scheduled to begin on 1st July following the enactment of House Bill 556. The proposed rules encompass key areas such as definitions, possession limits, licensing procedures (with a focus on social equity applicants), enforcement protocols, packaging and labelling requirements, delivery services, THC limits, advertising guidelines, and cannabis research. The regulations aim to facilitate the transition of existing medical cannabis businesses into the adult-use sector mainly through dual-licensing. The emergency regulations are currently undergoing review by the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR), and their implementation will be dependent upon approval by the AELR Committee and publication in the Maryland Register.
22nd May 2023
- US - Maryland: House Bill 232 has been signed by governor Wes Moore and enacted into law. The bill exempts the use of cannabis by parents or caregivers from qualifying as neglect, unless it causes harm or substantial risk to the child’s health or welfare. The legislation provides clarity on cannabis use by individuals responsible for the care and supervision of children, with certain exceptions, focusing on the child’s well-being and mental health.
4th May 2023
- US – Maryland: House Bill 556 and Senate Bill 516 have both been signed into law by governor Wes Moore, creating a legal framework and tax structure to enable sales of adult-use cannabis as early as 1st July. Among other provisions, the new laws enable existing medical cannabis dispensaries to have dual licences to sell recreational and medical cannabis and create the independent Maryland Cannabis Administration as the body responsible for the programme. After sorting the differences between the bills, the measures exempt medical cannabis from tax, while placing a 9% tax on cannabis for adult recreational use.
11th April 2023
US – Maryland: House Bill 556 and Senate Bill 516 have both been passed by the legislature and are now heading to the governor’s desk. The proposed legislation would create a legal framework and tax structure to enable adult-use cannabis to be sold in stores as early as 1st July. Among other provisions, the bills would also enable existing medical cannabis dispensaries to have dual licences to sell recreational cannabis and create the independent Maryland Cannabis Administration as the body responsible for the programme.
4th April 2023
US - Maryland: Senate Bill 516, which would establish a legal framework and tax structure to enable the adult-use cannabis market, has passed the Senate and now heads to the House. Among other provisions, the bill would create the independent Maryland Cannabis Administration, implement a flat 9% sales tax, and enable existing medical cannabis dispensaries to have dual licences to sell recreational cannabis. The House version of the bill is HB 556.
23rd March 2023
US - Maryland: House Bill 135 has passed the House and now heads to the Senate. It would specify that manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing certain large quantities of certain controlled dangerous substances is a felony, and raise the penalties for being a “drug kingpin” or “volume dealer” in cannabis. At the same time it would allow over-21s to manufacture an appropriate amount of cannabis products or concentrated cannabis for personal use or adult sharing at a private residence, as long as the manufacturing process does not involve the use of a volatile solvent.
20th March 2023
- US - Maryland: Senate Bill (SB) 508 has passed the Senate and now heads to the House. SB 508 would update the definitions of "hemp" and "hemp product”, authorising producers to produce and sell consumable hemp products if the product is tested by an independent laboratory. This is to ensure that the product meets the applicable safety standards and that the THC concentration does not exceed more than 0.5 mg of THC per serving or 2.5 mg of THC per package.
13th March 2023
- US - Maryland: House Bill (HB) 556 has passed the House and now heads to the Senate. HB 556 would create a legal framework and tax structure to enable adult-use cannabis to be sold in stores as soon as 1st July. Among other provisions, the bill would also enable existing medical cannabis dispensaries to have dual licences to sell recreational cannabis.
9th November 2022
US - Maryland: Voters passed a ballot initiative to legalise recreational cannabis, press reports. Approval of the ballot question enacts accompanying legislation – House Bill 837 – that will eventually allow adults (21+) to possess up to 1.5 oz of cannabis, 12 g of cannabis concentrate, and cannabis products with up to 750 mg of delta-9 THC. Individuals will still be subject to civil fines for possessing those amounts from 1st January, but all penalties will be removed on 1st July 2023. Home cultivation will also be allowed up to two cannabis plants if the cultivator is at least 21 and the plants are grown out of public view.
Regulatory reports
Comprehensive legal reports outlining how the sector is regulated, interpretation of the laws and relevant bodies
Regulatory databases
Regularly updated global regulations currently in place, compiled into easy-to-read maps and tables
