MARYLAND CANNABIS PROGRAM
MARYLAND
Licenses Coming Soon
Overview:
The state of Maryland legalized adult-use cannabis in 2022, through Legislative bills, S.B. 516, cross-filed as H.B. 556, which provides a regulatory framework for the cultivation, production, and sale of adult-use marijuana. Access to cannabis is through state-licensed businesses that are allowed to grow, manufacture and sell medical cannabis.
The state of Maryland legalized medical cannabis in 2014, through Legislative bills, Senate Bill 923 and House Bill 881, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment.
Access to medical cannabis is through state licensed businesses that are allowed to grow, manufacture and sell medical cannabis.
To learn more about Maryland cannabis business opportunities, contact us.
For more about cannabis business opportunities in Maryland, see below!
Hemp
Yes
Medical Marijuana
Yes
Adult-Use Marijuana
Yes
When to Apply
TBD
News
MARYLAND RECREATIONAL CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSES
On Feb. 3, 2023, Maryland state lawmakers introduced S.B. 516, cross-filed as H.B. 556, which provides a regulatory framework for the cultivation, production, and sale of adult-use marijuana.
Maryland Adult-Use Marijuana License Information
Cultivation Licenses: can grow cannabis plants, dry, cure, package, process cannabis-infused products, and sellwholesale to other licensed Maryland cannabis businesses.
- Micro license: shall not operate more than 10,000 square feet of indoor canopy or its equivalent. 100 micro Growers licenses available.
- Standard license: 75 standard Growers licenses available.
Processor Licenses: authorizes the acquisition, possession, processing, and sale of cannabis from adult-use cultivators to licensed processors or distributors.
- Micro license: shall not process more than 1,000 pounds of cannabis per year. 100 micro-Processor licenses available.
- Standard license: 100 standard Processor licenses available.
Dispensary Licenses: shall authorize the acquisition, possession, sale, and delivery of cannabis-to-cannabis consumers.
- Micro license: Dispensaries holding a micro license shall operate a delivery service that sells cannabis or cannabis products without a physical storefront, provided the licensee employs fewer than ten employees. 200 Dispensary licenses available.
- Standard license: 300 standard Dispensary licenses available.
Incubator Space Licenses: authorize licensees to operate a facility within which a micro licensee may operate. 10 licenses available.
On-Site Consumption Licenses: authorize licensees to operate a facility where individuals can smoke, vape, or consume cannabis. 50 licenses available.
Maryland awarded 205 licenses across the micro and standard grower, processor, and dispensary categories. The two lotteries conducted collectively represent the maximum number of licenses the MCA was authorized to award for the first round. The MCA is required to conduct extensive outreach prior to the next application round, and announce any application round 60 calendar days prior to the beginning of the 30 day calendar day application period. At this time, the MCA does not have a date for the beginning of the second round, and will evaluate the first round awards prior to the announcement of the next round dates.
MARYLAND MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSES
Maryland Medical Cannabis Cultivation – can grow medical cannabis plants and sell wholesale to other licensed Maryland Medical Cannabis Businesses. There is a limit of twenty-six (26) business licenses allowed for Maryland Medical Cannabis Cultivation within the state.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Processor – can extract, process and produce cannabis products such as edibles, concentrates, tinctures, etc and sell to dispensaries. There is a limit of thirty-eight (38) business licenses allowed for Maryland Medical Cannabis Processors within the state.
Maryland Medical Cannabis Dispensary – can purchase medical cannabis from licensed cultivation and processing facilities and sell cannabis to registered patients. There is a limit of 94 business licenses allowed for Maryland Medical Cannabis Dispensaries within the state.
HOW TO START A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN MARYLAND
To obtain a marijuana business license in Maryland, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, some of the plans you will need to include the following:
- Security Plan.
- Environmental Impact Plan.
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan.
- Business History Plan.
- Financial Plan.
- Community Benefits Plan.
- Research Plan.
- Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan.
- Labor Compliance Plan.
- Staffing and Training Plan.
Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application team to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.
MARYLAND MARIJUANA TIMELINE
2014 – Maryland legalizes medical cannabis
2016 – Maryland awarded medical cannabis business licenses
2017 – First Maryland cannabis businesses opened and medical cannabis sales began
2019 – Maryland reopens application process for additional medical cannabis cultivation licenses and processing licenses for minority/disadvantaged groups
November 2022 – Maryland legalizes adult-use Cannabis
July 1, 2023 – Maryland’s adult-use cannabis law goes into effect
On or Around September 2023 -60 day notice for Application Acceptance
Estimated November 2023 – 30-day application period for social equity individuals and businesses interested in applying for a standard or micro cannabis license in Round 1.
January 1, 2024 – First round of licenses awarded
May 1, 2024 – The Division cannot begin issuing the second round of licenses until after May 1, 2024. The next application round has yet to be announced.
Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application team to learn more about how we may be able to assist you. Need more help? Book an Hourly Maryland Cannabis Consultation today!
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CONTACT US
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Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner