<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gab" article_name="Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis" number="1-309.1" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Advisory Board” means the Advisory Board on Medical and Adult–Use Cannabis.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is an Advisory Board on Medical and Adult–Use Cannabis.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Advisory Board shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>consider all matters submitted to it by the Office of Social Equity, the Governor, the Maryland Cannabis Administration, or the General Assembly; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>study and make recommendations on:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the impact on the legal medical and adult–use cannabis industry in the State if the federal government:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>reschedules cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>removes cannabis from the list of controlled substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>measures to protect and promote the legal medical and adult–use cannabis industry in the State if cannabis is:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>measures to enable standard and micro cannabis licensees and small businesses to compete in interstate commerce related to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and testing of cannabis and cannabis products;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>methods to ensure that there is an adequate supply of affordable cannabis and cannabis products for qualifying patients, including cannabis and cannabis products containing varying levels of potency; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>methods to assist social equity applicants, social equity licensees, and small, minority, and women–owned businesses to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>access funds for operating or capital expenses associated with a business participating in the medical and adult–use cannabis industry;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>obtain financing from a lender, as defined in § 36–1401 of this article; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>partner with operational cannabis licensees in ways that the social equity applicants or licensees or small, minority, or women–owned businesses retain ownership and control of the licenses and businesses.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Advisory Board consists of the following members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>three members that have substantial experience in one or more of the following:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>cannabis law, science, or policy;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>public health or health care;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>agriculture;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>finance; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>addiction treatment;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>one academic researcher with at least 5 years of experience in social or health equity;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>one representative of an independent testing laboratory registered under § 36–408 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>two representatives who hold a standard grower license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>two representatives who hold a standard processor license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>two representatives who hold a standard dispensary license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>two representatives who hold a micro grower license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>two representatives who hold a micro processor license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>two representatives who hold a micro dispensary license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="x">
        <text>one representative who holds an incubator space license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xi">
        <text>one representative who holds an on–site consumption license under § 36–401 of this article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xii">
        <text>one representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of patients who engage in the medical use of cannabis;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiii">
        <text>one representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of consumers who engage in the adult use of cannabis; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiv">
        <text>one health care provider who is registered to certify patients to obtain medical cannabis under § 36–301 of this article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Advisory Board shall elect a chair from among its members.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House may recommend to the Governor a list of individuals for appointment to the Advisory Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The term of a member of the Advisory Board is 4 years.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An appointed member may not serve more than two full terms.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The positions for members appointed under subsection (d)(1)(vii) through (xi) of this section become effective when the first licenses are issued under those respective license types.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>An appointed member of the Advisory Board must be:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>at least 25 years old;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a resident of the State who has resided in the State for at least the immediately preceding 5 years before the appointment; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a registered voter of the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Advisory Board shall establish at least two subcommittees to focus on medical and adult–use cannabis.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>To the extent practicable and consistent with federal and State law, the membership of the Advisory Board shall reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>The Maryland Cannabis Administration shall provide staff for the Advisory Board.</text>
  </level>
</section>
