Bill > HB1519

This bill, the Cannabis Reform and Opportunity Act, makes several changes to Maryland's cannabis laws, primarily by altering the definition of "control" for cannabis businesses to exclude certain management services agreements, franchise relationships, and options to purchase that are exercised after a specific waiting period, thereby allowing more flexibility in business operations and investments. It also prohibits the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) from limiting the acquisition of non-majority ownership interests in multiple cannabis businesses and reduces the mandatory waiting period before a cannabis license can be transferred from five years to three years, with exceptions for specific circumstances like death or employee stock ownership plans. Furthermore, the bill modifies advertising restrictions by removing certain criteria for prohibitions on ads targeting minors and allowing more flexibility in where businesses can display advertisements, while still requiring age verification for online content and prohibiting advertisements that are attractive to minors or display cannabis use. Finally, it increases penalties for selling or distributing certain cannabis products that exceed tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limits, making violations a misdemeanor with fines up to $10,000 per violation.