Cannabis Laws in Maryland
Maryland Cannabis Administration Regulations
Read MCA's regulation on COMAR online.
Update! The Maryland Cannabis Administration’s (MCA) Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA) to amend COMAR 14.17.01, .05, .10, .12, .13, .18, and .22 has been printed in the Maryland Register. Stakeholders may submit public comments to [email protected] through July 27, 2026. Find a copy of the printed NOPA here - PDF.
The purposes of the draft regulatory amendments are to:
Define medical and therapeutic claims;
Allow conditional licensees to request up to two 6-month extensions based on certain criteria;
Establish minimum standards for licensed growers to protect the rights of growers and employees.
Codify grower corrective and preventive action (CAPA) requirements;
In alignment with requirements for standard dispensaries, authorizes MCA to require micro dispensaries to distribute certain point of sale materials to customers;
Add sublingual pouches as a new product category with associated product, packaging, and labeling requirements;
Remove “plain” packaging requirement and supplement existing restrictions on youth-appealing packaging; and
Establish discovery procedures under COMAR 14.17.22.09.
These amendments also include other minor clarifications to correct typos or align with current policy. These changes do not alter any existing processes and are not anticipated to have any operational impact on stakeholders at this time.
Guidance for licensees
Find guidance documents to help your cannabis business understand and comply with Maryland Cannabis Administration regulations. These documents are not legal advice — consult an attorney with questions about your specific legal obligations.
Compilation of cannabis laws
- 36–101. Definitions
- 36–201. Maryland Cannabis Administration
- 36–202. Powers and Duties of Administration
- 36–203. Regulations
- 36–203.1. Potency; Labeling; and Packaging
- 36–204. State Cannabis Testing Laboratory
- 36–205. Fees
- 36–206. Cannabis Regulation and Enforcement Fund
- 36–301. Certifying Providers
- 36–302. Medical Cannabis
- 36–401. Cannabis Licenses
- 36–402. Cannabis Cultivation Licenses
- 36–403. Conversion Fees and License Fees
- 36–404. Applications; Awarding of Licenses
- 36–405. Political Subdivisions
- 36–406. Incubator Spaces
- 36–407. On-Site Consumption
- 36–408. Independent Testing Laboratories
- 36–409. Registration to Provide Services to a Cannabis Licensee
- 36–410. Dispensaries
- 36-411. Protest Against License Renewal
- 36–501. Cannabis Agents
- 36–502. Ownership
- 36–503. Transfer of License
- 36–504. Restrictions on Ownership
- 36–505. Criminal History Records Checks
- 36-601. Medical Cannabis Compassionate Use Fund
- 36–701. Bona Fide Research Projects
- 36–702. Research and Development
- 36–801. Information on Cannabis Supply and Cannabis Market
- 36–802. Reports on Supply of Cannabis
- 36–803. Publication of Data
- 36–901. Advertising Definitions
- 36–902. Requirements for Advertising
- 36–903. Prohibitions on Advertising; Age Verification
- 36–1001. Responsible Vendor Training Programs
- 36–1002. Regulations for Responsible Vendor Training Programs
- 36–1003. Duties of Providers of Responsible Vendor Training Programs
- 36–1101. Sale, Transfer, or Delivery of Cannabis
- 36–1102. Prohibitions on Sale and Distribution
- 36-1103. Genuine Ownership
- 36–1201. Legal Protections
- 36-1401. Financial Definitions
- 36-1402. Capital Access Program
- 36-1403. Purpose of Capital Access Program
- 36-1404. Capital Access Program Loans
- 36-1405. Lender Participation Requirements
- 36-1406. Loan Loss Reserve
- 36-1501. Cannabis Business Definitions
- 36-1502. Depository Institutions and Insurance Companies
- 36-1503. Depository Institutions Protections
- 36-1504. Federal Financial Protections
- 36-1505. Financial Service Protections
- 36-1506. Financial Services- No Requirement or Restriction on Regulation
- 36-1507. Financial Institutions Legal Protections
Cannabis reform legislation
Other cannabis legislation
Questions?
Please use MCA’s Policy Question Intake Form to submit questions related to MCA regulations, cannabis legislation, issued guidance, or other policy issues. MCA staff will review submissions and address policy questions in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document.