Cannabis Engineering & Compliance Welcomes Maryland to Legal Cannabis!
The people of Maryland voted to legalize recreational consumption of marijuana, and in May of 2023, Governor Wes Moore signed that bill into law. This change not only opens up new economic opportunities for Marylanders, but has significant social impact as well. As Governor Moore stated, “It’s the first step in ensuring an equitable transition to recreational marijuana use in Maryland and repairing the harm that a lifetime of criminalization has had on low-income communities and communities of color.” Our Baltimore office is especially pleased with this development and we’re all looking forward to helping emerging cannabis businesses start off strong!
The State will be issuing cannabis business license in two rounds, beginning in the fall of 2023. In keeping with the Governor’s goal of equity, the first round of licenses will be limited to social equity applicants. The drive for equity is also backed up by $80M, an independent cannabis equity office, and expungement provisions for some prior cannabis convictions.
Cannabis Facility Licensing in Maryland
For folks who want to get their licenses and enter the business end of this industry, make sure you are in touch with the newly created Maryland Cannabis Administration. Existing license holders for medical marijuana have an option to convert their licenses under the new recreational use laws. September of 2023 will open a 30–day window for Round 1 of licensing. During this period, the state plans to issue both Standard and Micro licenses up to the following limits:
| STANDARD | MICRO |
|---|---|
| 20 grower licenses | 30 grower licenses |
| 40 processor (extraction) licenses | 30 processor (extraction) licenses |
| 80 dispensary licenses | 10 dispensary licenses |
The State will also issue 10 incubator space licenses in this period.
In January of 2024, the State will notify successful applicants of their licenses. May of 2024 will be the start of Round 2.
Resources for Maryland Cannabis Grow and Extraction Facility Owners
Now that it’s legal, are you considering getting into the cannabis business or expanding your medical cannabis operation in Maryland? The experts at CE+C bring expertise from more than 65 cannabis projects. We also have years of experience with wineries, breweries, and distilleries, which have many of the same challenges as extraction labs. Our grow experience is added onto a variety of skills developed on food manufacturing and science lab projects, each of which rely on very tight climate control. We think the most important thing about us, though, is that we are passionate about seeing you succeed! Everything we do, from our first contact with you to the last part of a project, is centered on your needs and goals.
For that reason, our website has free resources for growers and processors. Here are a few places to start.
- If you have a medical cannabis facility and are converting your license, maybe now is the time to consider expansion.
- For growers: Find out what you should be considering as you design a cannabis grow facility, including lighting, temperature and humidity control, and CO2 enrichment.
- For processors: Learn more about what to consider as you design your extraction facility.
- Read about extraction solvents , including CID1 and CID2 chemicals.
As your facility grows, keep CE+C’s resources in mind, and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.
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