Bill > HB556

Introduced Session

AN ACT concerning Cannabis Reform FOR the purpose of renaming the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to be the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission; establishing the Maryland Cannabis Administration as an independent unit of State government; establishing a regulatory and licensing system for adult-use cannabis under the Commission Administration; imposing the sales and use tax on the sale of adult-use cannabis at certain rates in certain fiscal years at a certain rate; establishing the Office of Social Equity, in the Maryland Cannabis Commission and the Advisory Board on Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis, and the Social Equity Partnership Grant Fund in the Commission; altering provisions of law relating to the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund; establishing the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Division as an independent unit in the Commission; requiring the Division Administration to establish and maintain a State cannabis testing laboratory; establishing the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring that the investment earnings of the Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund be credited to the Fund; repealing certain provisions of law establishing and governing the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission; requiring the Division Administration, rather than the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission, to take certain actions related to medical cannabis; requiring the Division Administration, on or before a certain date and under certain circumstances, to convert medical cannabis licenses to licenses to operate a medical and adult-use cannabis business; regulating the actions that local jurisdictions political subdivisions may take regarding cannabis businesses; prohibiting certain individuals from taking certain actions related to cannabis licensees and registrants; establishing the Medical Cannabis Compassionate Use Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring that the interest earnings of the Medical Cannabis Compassionate Use Fund be credited to the Fund; authorizing certain entities to register with the Division Administration to purchase cannabis for research purposes; establishing prohibitions related to the advertising of cannabis and cannabis products; requiring a person to be approved by the Division Administration to offer a certain training program; establishing certain legal protections related to the use of cannabis; establishing a Capital Access Program in the Department of Commerce; establishing certain prohibitions related to banking by cannabis businesses; altering certain provisions of law relating to the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund; exempting the Commission from State procurement requirements under certain circumstances; requiring a cannabis licensee, under certain circumstances, to comply with the State’s Minority Business Enterprise Program; requiring the Commission to contract with an independent consultant to complete a study on wholesale cannabis licenses; requiring the study to be submitted to certain persons on or before a certain date; requiring the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to identify certain locations and submit a certain report to the General Assembly; requiring the Commission to study and report on certain matters relating to on-site consumption and certain cannabis products; requiring the Administration to contract with an independent consultant to complete a study on wholesale cannabis licenses; requiring the study to be submitted to certain persons on or before a certain date; requiring the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to identify certain locations and submit a certain report to the General Assembly; requiring the Administration to study and report on certain matters relating to on-site consumption; requiring that certain growers be awarded certain dispensary licenses under certain circumstances; and generally relating to medical and adult-use cannabis. BY repealing Article - Health - General Section 13-3301 through 13-3316 and the subtitle “Subtitle 33. Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission” Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing Article - Health - General The subtitle designation “Subtitle 46. Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund” immediately preceding Section 13-4601 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) (As enacted by Chapter 26 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022) BY transferring Article - Health - General Section 13-4601 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) (As enacted by Chapter 26 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022) to be Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-322 Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY renumbering Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-101(d) through (y) and (z) through (ii) to be Section 1-101(e) through (z) and (bb) through (kk), respectively Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, WES MOORE, Governor Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-101(a) Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-101(d) and (aa), 1-309.1, 1-309.2, and 1-323; and 36-101 through 36-1507 to be under the new division “Division III. Cannabis” Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-101(g) and (r) Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) (As enacted by Section 4 of this Act) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-101(f) and (q) 1-202; and 1-302, 1-303(a), 1-304, 1-307 through 1-310, and 1-313 to be under the amended subtitle “Subtitle 3. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission” Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-309.1, 1-309.2, and 1-323; and 36-101 through 36-1507 to be under the new division “Division III. Cannabis” Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Alcoholic Beverages Section 1-322 Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement) (As enacted by Section 3 of this Act) BY adding to Article - Tax - General Section 2-1302.2, 11-104(k), and 11-245 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Tax - General Section 2-1303 Annotated Code of Maryland (2022 Replacement Volume) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Economic Development Section 5-1901 Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 6-226(a)(2)(i) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 6-201(e) and 6-226(a)(2)(ii)170. and 171. Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - State Finance and Procurement Section 6-226(a)(2)(ii)172. and 173. Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - State Personnel and Pensions Section 23-201(a)(13) and (14) and 26-201(a)(22) Annotated Code of Maryland (2015 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY adding to Article - State Personnel and Pensions Section 23-201(a)(15) Annotated Code of Maryland (2015 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Health - General Section 13-4505 WES MOORE, Governor Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) BY renaming Article - Alcoholic Beverages to be Article - Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Annotated Code of Maryland (2016 Volume and 2022 Supplement)

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C.T. Wilson (D)*,  Vanessa Atterbeary (D), 

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 254 (on 05/03/2023)

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