Maryland Opens First Round of Adult-Use Cannabis Business Licensing

The first round of adult-use cannabis licensing is open in Maryland. The first round of licenses is set aside for social equity applicants, defined by -state law as companies with “at least 65% ownership held by one or more individuals who have been verified as social equity applicants.” The state has already verified social equity applicants eligible under the law.  

Additionally, social equity applicants lived or went to public school in an area disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of cannabis or attended a four-year institution of higher education in Maryland where at least 40% of enrollees were eligible for a Pell Grant. The state has previously published the ZIP codes and public schools in Maryland that are within a disproportionately impacted area, and the qualifying four-year institutions of higher education.  

The Maryland Cannabis Administration will award up to 179 licenses, including 75 standard dispensaries, which will be distributed by county, and 16 standard growers, 32 standard processors, 24 micro growers, 24 microprocessors, and eight micro dispensaries, each of which will be distributed by region. Each applicant may apply for multiple license types but will only be awarded one.  

The application period will close on December 12.