Volume 6  |  Fall 2025

The information contained in this newsletter is intended for Maryland Cannabis Business Agents aged 21+. This newsletter is provided by the Maryland Cannabis Administration for the purposes of general updates and as a supplemental educational resource. It is not intended to replace or constitute legal or business advice, consultation or service. You should consult an attorney for advice. For compliance concerns, contact your investigator or mca.compliance@maryland.gov.

Autumn Vibes

Greetings,

Welcome to the latest edition of the BeCannabisSmart newsletter!

As the fall season approaches, the Maryland Cannabis Administration is excited to embrace a moment of transition not only in the color of the leaves and the crisp air but within our agency.

Currently, the MCA is in the process of implementing more customer-oriented and coordinated procedures to respond to general and licensee inquiries, revamping the licensing process, and re-evaluating requirements for Responsible Vendor Training (RVT). The refreshed operational measures are aligned with MCA standards, and we look forward to executing them in the coming months. More information will be provided in next quarter’s BeCannabisSmart newsletter. MCA is also proposing regulatory changes related to reducing regulatory burdens for licensees, including conditional license period extensions and agent badging fees, as well as establishing a contamination protocol for growers and processors. We look forward to your comments and feedback on these proposed regulatory changes. We also identified that licensees have been overcharged for certain fees. We are currently investigating the depth and scale of this issue with our vendor and will share information on reimbursements as soon as possible.

Additionally, the Appellate Court of Maryland issued its opinion regarding an update on intoxicating THC products. Please click here to read it.

Last month, Maryland Cannabis Administration staff canvassed the state to install new signage in every licensed dispensary in Maryland for our “Cannabis Trusted Source” campaign (more below). We developed this campaign to provide a simple and clear ‘sign’ to adult consumers and medical patients as to where to find regulated products. We are working in partnership with all of you to ensure that consumers have the facts to make informed decisions to buy regulated products from our licensed dispensaries. We’ve also added this page to our website with more information on why to buy from a Cannabis Trusted Source.

Be sure to re-share on Facebook and Instagram - @mcadminofficial and X: @mdcannabis. And, check out our new searchable Dispensary Locator here (cannabis.maryland.gov/dispensarylocator).

Enclosed, you’ll learn more details about an update on the annual required trainings for all badged agents, recognize new social equity licensees that recently became operational, find reminders on responsible advertising and age-gating, and a lot more.

And, as always, read on to … Be informed. Be responsible. BeCannabisSmart.

With gratitude,
Tabatha Robinson

Cannabis Trusted Source

Above are some live action photos of the “Cannabis Trusted Source” signs being installed. MCA is currently running digital media to inform consumers 21+ about this campaign, including on Leafly and Reddit. In addition to providing new signs, MCA refreshed and replenished several BeCannabisSmart consumer-facing materials for dispensaries (see below). These include “Guide to Adult-Use Cannabis in Maryland” posters hung in entry areas of dispensaries, along with displays of pocket guides – free to distribute to patients and adult consumers – in English and Spanish with tips on responsible use. Stop by a dispensary to pick one up today!

Note to dispensaries: These new materials update and consolidate previous items provided by MCA. You are now permitted to remove the following stickers (see below). Questions? Reach out to publichealth.mca@maryland.gov.  

MCA Updates

Attention Growers

• The Annual Canopy Report was due October 1, 2025. Visit MCA’s Reporting Requirements page for more information.

Reminders

• Advertising. Storefront signage should only include the business name (for the purpose of identifying the business to the public) and not product discounts or sales, QR codes, URLs, or ads for specific products. Ads in publicly visible locations are prohibited, including billboards, sandwich boards, and on vehicles. For ads on social media, internet, radio, television, print publications, or for an event sponsorship, a licensee must have current and reliable audience composition data that supports a conclusion that at least 85% of the audience is reasonably expected to be 21+. Licensees can request that MCA review audience composition data and provide an assessment of whether the data supports such a conclusion. Request form can be found here. Questions? Email reporting.mca@maryland.gov.
• Age gates on websites. Starting this month, MCA will begin auditing licensee websites to ensure that they employ an effective, neutral age-screening mechanism that verifies each user is at least 21 years of age. The full date of birth must be entered (a button to check “Yes” to 21+ is not sufficient). See MCA’s 8/11/25 notice for further information.
• Product testing. If a licensee would like to retest a product that has already had compliance testing completed, the licensee needs to submit a retest in Metrc. Research and Development (R&D) testing should only be used for products in intermediate stages and not the final product stage.
• Selling hemp-derived products. If a licensee is interested in bringing hemp-derived products (e.g., minor cannabinoid concentrates, flower) into the Maryland regulated market, the licensee must complete the hemp acquisition form for approval prior to accepting delivery of the product. Questions? Email mca.labs@maryland.gov.
• Lab testing for vapes. As of April 1, 2025, the testing procedure for vape cartridges requires two samples: 1) filled cartridges and 2) concentrate. Filled vape cartridges are to be used to perform heavy metal testing and the concentrate is to be used for the remainder of compliance testing. These samples will be used in combination as a ‘single sample’ for compliance testing purposes. Please see previously issued MCA Notice here. And the latest version of the MCA Technical Authority for Cannabis Testing can be found here.

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