|
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. |
|
Welcome to the BeCannabisSmart newsletter!
We’re less than a week away from the beginning of Spring and I must admit, I’m looking forward to warmer temperatures, sunnier days and the countdown to the cherry blossoms hitting full peak! Over the past few months, I had the pleasure of testifying before the Maryland General Assembly on several bills and legislative matters relevant to the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) and partnering agencies. Please be sure to visit the Maryland General Assembly website to view previous testimony.
Last month, the MCA hosted the webinar, Licensure Pathway Webinar: Transitioning Conditional Licenses to Active Operations, to advise conditional licenses on important documents and steps necessary to becoming fully operational. To further that endeavor, the MCA created a Pathway to Licensure toolkit which will assist with transitioning conditional licenses to active operators. The toolkit includes several resources such as a webinar, licensee guidance and a complete diagram outlining the phases of the pathway to licensure.
Click here to view the Pathway to Licensure toolkit.
This edition is packed with lots of useful information including the Fourth Annual Maryland Medical Cannabis Patient Survey, language for proposed House Bill 622, a tip line to report product sales at unlicensed shops, a celebratory welcome to new licensees who have received final approval to become operational, and much more! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram - @mcadminofficial and X: @mdcannabis for the latest MCA updates and information. As always, read on to … Be informed. Be responsible. BeCannabisSmart.
With gratitude,
Tabatha Robinson
|
|
New Resource Alert!
We heard you! In response to the positive feedback and requests from dispensaries on our Cannabis Trusted Source campaign, MCA has developed a :15 second animated file for dispensaries to display on TV screen/monitors in their stores. A still frame is pictured above. Interested in receiving the file for display? Please have your dispensary owner/manager complete this form.
|
|
 |
|
MCA recently completed its fourth annual Maryland Medical Cannabis Patient Survey. Similar to previous surveys, over 13,000 patients took part in the 2025 survey wave, showing continued patient commitment to the medical program. Patient responses identified priorities and desired program enhancements, such as: (1) increased availability of products including RSO, transdermal patches, tinctures, and topicals; (2) offering enhanced ability for patients to check monthly allotments on their own, which would reduce reliance on dispensaries to check remaining allotments; and (3) new point-of-sale or online resources for topics including how to better understand: COAs, terpenes and cannabinoids, and what information is on a product label. The full report will be available soon on MCA’s website under “Additional Reports.” |
 |
|
On March 2, 2026, MCA regulatory amendments to COMAR 14.17.01, .02, .05, .06, .10-.15, .18, and .21 took effect. Policy updates included granting pilot program authority to MCA, establishing grower and processor decontamination protocols, and defining certain terms. Additional industry regulatory updates:
• Extend the conditional license period from 18 to 24 months
• Reduce agent badging fees from $50 to $25
• Permit “walk-up” windows at standard dispensaries
• Permit the production of high dose liquid edibles for the medical market
• Clarify hemp acquisition procedures for processors in COMAR 14.17.11.03B
• Require that agents must complete Responsible Vendor Training (RVT) within 90 days of the employee’s start date. NOTE: Agents who have taken an MCA-approved RVT training within the past year are not required to retake an RVT course if they change industry jobs (i.e., move/transfer to another MCA licensee). RVT certificates of completion go with agents to their new position. Annual renewal is still required, based on the date of the last certificate of completion.
Please visit MCA’s Laws & Regulations for all revised guidance, including license-specific guidance, about recent regulatory changes.
|
 |
|
Seeing product sales at unlicensed shops? MCA has partnered with the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) on a new way to report concerns about unlicensed retailers selling THC products. Tips can be sent in for ATCC to investigate using this form: THCTips.maryland.gov. MCA and ATCC are collaborating on outreach to raise awareness of this resource. |
 |
|
MCA hosted a virtual Conditional Licensee Listening Session on January 29 to gain insights from conditional licensees on their experiences becoming operational. MCA followed this with a webinar titled, Licensure Pathway Webinar: Transitioning Conditional Licenses to Active Operations on February 25, 2026. This online session provided an overview of the full licensure pathway – covering supplemental applications, location and facility review, inspection readiness, and final activation procedures – to help ensure licensees understand required steps, documentation expectations, and common challenges that may impact timelines. |
 |
|
Don’t miss out! Metrc will be hosting a webinar for Maryland’s badged agents on March 12, 2026 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Topics include recent functionality updates, item creation best practices, avoiding common testing errors, and agent badging questions. Register to receive the meeting link at https://learn.metrc.com. |
 |
|
House Bill 622, Cannabis - Licensees - Micro Dispensary Employees and Cannabis Agent Training Programs was requested by MCA to propose: (1) increasing the number of individuals a micro-dispensary can employ from 10 to 20 and (2) modifying the current Responsible Vendor Training (RVT) framework, allowing for training to be more customized by licensee type, versus the current statutory language that is most focused on dispensary operations. MCA will communicate relevant updates following the legislative session, which ends April 13, 2026. |
 |
|
Congratulations to the following businesses who received final licensure since our December newsletter was published: Stoked Dispensary, Evergrowing Releaf, and Jenny’s of Maryland (dispensaries); Stoic Farms LLC and HWR LLC (microprocessors), NWilks Holdings LLC (processor), and Green Genie LLC (microgrower). NOTE: additional licensees are close to opening! The newsletter is accurate as of dissemination date. |
|
|
- MCA is exploring the use of mobile driver's license (mDL) technology for age verification at dispensaries. mDL is a secure digital version of a driver's license or ID issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration – this is verified by MVA and not just a picture of a physical driver’s license. If your dispensary is interested in piloting mDL, or would like to provide feedback on this potential update, please email publichealth.mca@maryland.gov. Read more on mDL at Pages - Maryland Mobile ID Program
 Reminders
- Attention dispensary agents! Many six-year patient registrations are expiring this spring and summer. Did you know patients can renew their MCA registration up to 60 days before it expires? When you are checking a patient's status in OneStop, you can view their registration expiration date. If it is expiring within the next couple of months, let them know that they can renew now to avoid delays and possible disruption of their current patient status. There is no cost for patients to renew their registration with MCA. More information on patient and caregiver registration renewals can be found here.
- All cannabis agent registrations must be submitted by the licensee through the OneStop portal. Individual agents cannot submit applications themselves. Guidance on this process, along with criminal history checks for new agents can be found here. This guidance is relevant to all individuals seeking to obtain or maintain a cannabis license or registration, including license owners with an ownership interest of 5 percent or more, conditional licensees, transferees, registrants, cannabis agents, and those applying for renewals. NOTE: MCA will be posting updated tips for agent registrations in the near future, check our website for updates.
- The MCA Workforce Development Program will offer Level I in-person courses beginning in Spring 2026 for previously waitlisted participants. Participants will receive two consecutive days of hands-on instruction in processing and cultivation. MCA is excited to expand the curriculum with more in-depth learning opportunities for participants from the workforce development program. A full list of new virtual courses that will be offered include: Packaging, Labeling, & Product Approval, Good Manufacturing Practices & Quality Assurance, Employment Discrimination, Inspections & Enforcement, Occupational Safety, Patient Engagement, and Lab Testing.
Have a suggestion or topic for the newsletter?
Send it to publichealth.mca@maryland.gov
Archived Newsletters
Click here!
|
|
|
This distribution list has been developed from email addresses provided with cannabis agent registration. If you are aware of colleagues who are not receiving this newsletter, please ensure they have provided a valid email address in their OneStop account.
|
|
|
|
|
