Maryland lawmakers have filed legislation meant to clear up policies around on-site marijuana consumption businesses, while adding a new permit for temporary cannabis events.
While the legalization law that Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed in 2023 already contemplated social consumption sites where people could use marijuana, regulators are asking lawmakers to pass a measure with a series of amendments to clarify the rules.
In a summary of the proposal, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) said the reforms are meant to clear up “ambiguous or conflicting provisions under current law, while maintaining the strong public health and safety protections, including the indoor smoking prohibition.”
“The departmental bill seeks to do this in large part by expanding market access to cannabis beverages through an event registration process,” it says.
To that point, the legislation—which was filed by the chairs of the Senate Finance Committee and House Economic Matters Committee on behalf of MCA—includes definitions and various mentions for what constitutes a “cannabinoid beverage” that could be offered at consumption lounges and temporary marijuana events. Such drinks could not contain more than 5mg of THC in a single serving.
The measures also stipulate that on-site cannabis consumption lounges can operate as food service
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