Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed into law legislation that establishes a regulatory framework for legal marijuana sales, which can begin on July 1.
“This will ensure the rollout of recreational cannabis in our state drives opportunity in an equitable way”, Governor Moore said at a signing ceremony for Senate Bill 516. “The criminalization of marijuana harmed low income communities and communities of color in a profound way. We want to make sure that the legalization of marijuana lifts those communities now in a profound way.”
The passage of Senate Bill 516 is needed given voters approved an initiative in November to legalize recreational marijuana. The initiative tasked the legislature to establish rules for the legal marijuana industry, with sales allowed to begin on July 1.
Under the new law a Maryland Cannabis Administration will be created and tasked with industry regulations, while a Division of Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement would be in charge of reviewing, approving and issuing licenses for marijuana businesses. Marijuana would be taxed at 9%, with medical marijuana patients exempt. The law also increases the number of plants a patient can grow from two to four.
Current medical marijuana dispensaries would be given the option of paying a fee for a “dual license” in order to start selling recreational marijuana by July 1 of this year. License approval for new marijuana businesses would need to begin by July 1, 2024.
Localities would not be allowed to establish their own marijuana tax, and would also not be allowed to ban medical marijuana businesses that convert to a dual license in order to serve medical and recreational consumers.
The full text of the new law can be found by clicking here.
