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<section article="gab" article_name="Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis" number="1-323" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Advertise” includes packaging, labeling, or electronic communication.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Retailer” means a person that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>sells, prepares, or maintains unauthorized consumable products; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>advertises, represents, or holds itself out as selling, preparing, or maintaining unauthorized consumable products.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Retailer” includes the following persons, if the person otherwise meets the definition established under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a manufacturer;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a wholesaler;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a store;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>a restaurant;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>a hotel;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>a catering facility;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>a camp;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="8">
          <text>a bakery;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="9">
          <text>a delicatessen;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="10">
          <text>a supermarket;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="11">
          <text>a grocery store;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="12">
          <text>a convenience store;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="13">
          <text>a gas station;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="14">
          <text>a food company; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="15">
          <text>a drink company.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Unauthorized consumable product” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a tianeptine product as defined in § 21–2D–01 of the Health – General Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a kratom product, as defined in § 21–2E–01 of the Health – General Article, that does not comply with Title 21, Subtitle 2E of the Health – General Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a phenibut product, as defined in § 21–2F–01 of the Health – General Article, that does not comply with Title 21, Subtitle 2F of the Health – General Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a consumable product that contains a poisonous or deleterious substance in violation of a rule or regulation adopted under § 21–239(c) of the Health – General Article and is designated by the Secretary of Health for enforcement by the Executive Director.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A retailer may not distribute, sell, expose for sale, or advertise for sale an unauthorized consumable product.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Executive Director may seize, confiscate, or destroy:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an unauthorized consumable product that is offered, advertised, or displayed for sale to a consumer in the State; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a product that is labeled, advertised, represented, or offered for sale as containing:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>7–hydroxymitragynine in an amount that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>for a kratom product, is greater than the amount permitted under § 21–2E–02(b)(1)(iii) of the Health – General Article; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is greater than 1 milligram per serving;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>tianeptine sodium;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>tianeptine sulfate; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>beta–phenyl–gamma–aminobutyric acid HCl.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A product seized under subsection (c) of this section is presumed to be contraband and subject to summary forfeiture unless the person from whom the product was seized demonstrates the product is:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>if applicable, in compliance with Title 21, Subtitle 2E of the Health – General Article; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>authorized for sale and distribution for the purposes of human consumption by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Maryland Department of Health; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A retailer that violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>In addition to the penalties established under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the District Court may order the Executive Director, the Comptroller, or the applicable local licensing board or commission to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>suspend or revoke a license issued under this article or Title 16, 16.5, 16.7, or 17 of the Business Regulation Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>dispose of or destroy an unauthorized consumable product seized under subsection (c) of this section; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a retailer that violates this section is liable for civil damages sustained by an individual that result from the violation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
