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<section article="gab" article_name="Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis" number="36-401" title_number="36" title_name="Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Cannabis Licensing">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person must obtain a cannabis license issued by the Administration to operate a cannabis business.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A cannabis license issued under this subtitle:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>authorizes the holder of the license to operate a medical and adult–use cannabis business;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>is valid for 5 years on initial licensure and 5 years on renewal; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>may be transferred only in accordance with Subtitle 5 of this title.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Administration shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>issue standard licenses, micro licenses, incubator space licenses, and on–site consumption licenses in accordance with this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>on or before July 1, 2023, convert licenses that were issued to medical cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries, including those businesses preapproved for licensure, to licenses to operate a medical and adult–use cannabis business if:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a conversion fee is paid in accordance with § 36–403 of this subtitle; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the business complies with the ownership restrictions under subsection (e) of this section;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>set production, processing, sales, and other limitations and requirements for all license types;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>issue dispensary licenses in a manner that encourages a balanced geographic distribution based on population and market demand within a specific county, as well as cross–jurisdictional market demand; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>adopt regulations requiring licensees whose licenses were converted by the Administration under item (ii) of this paragraph to reserve a specified amount of cannabis for social equity licensees.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Administration may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>inspect a cannabis licensee to ensure compliance with this title and the regulations adopted under this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>revoke a cannabis license if good faith efforts have not been made by the cannabis licensee to establish a cannabis business within 18 months after the license was awarded;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>impose penalties or rescind the license of a cannabis licensee that does not meet the standards for licensure established under this title or regulations adopted under this title; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>conditionally award cannabis licenses.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A standard license authorizes the holder of the license:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>for growers, to operate more than 10,000 square feet, but not more than 300,000 square feet, of indoor canopy or its equivalent, as calculated by the Administration;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for processors, to process more than 2,000 pounds of cannabis per year, as calculated by the Administration; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>for dispensaries, to operate a store at a physical location that sells cannabis or cannabis products.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A micro license authorizes the holder of the license:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>for growers, to operate not more than 10,000 square feet of indoor canopy or its equivalent, as calculated by the Administration;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for processors, to process not more than 2,000 pounds of cannabis per year, as calculated by the Administration; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>for dispensaries, to operate a delivery service that sells cannabis or cannabis products without a physical storefront, provided that the licensee employs not more than 20 registered cannabis agents.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An incubator space license authorizes the holder of the license to operate a facility within which a micro licensee may operate in accordance with § 36–406 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>An on–site consumption license authorizes the holder of the license to operate a facility on the premises of which individuals can smoke outdoors, vape, or consume cannabis in accordance with § 36–407 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Administration may not issue more than the following number of licenses per type, including licenses converted under subsection (b)(1)(ii) of this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>for standard licenses:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>75 grower licenses;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>100 processor licenses; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>300 dispensary licenses;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>for micro licenses:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>100 grower licenses;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>100 processor licenses; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>10 dispensary licenses;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>for incubator space licenses, 10 licenses; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>for on–site consumption licenses, 50 licenses.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This subsection applies to all licenses, including licenses converted under subsection (b)(1)(ii) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a person may have an ownership interest in or control of, including the power to manage and operate:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>for standard licenses and micro licenses:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>one grower licensee;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>one processor licensee; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>not more than four dispensary licensees;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for incubator space licenses, not more than two licensees; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>for on–site consumption licenses, not more than two licensees.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A person who owns or controls an incubator space licensee or an on–site consumption licensee may not own or control any cannabis licensee listed under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Administration shall adopt regulations limiting a person or fund from acquiring a nonmajority ownership interest in multiple cannabis businesses beyond the limitations established under this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The restrictions in paragraph (2) of this subsection do not apply to a person or an entity who holds an ownership interest only as a passive investor.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The holder of a cannabis license may not surrender the license and apply for a new license in the same or a similar category.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The limitation under paragraph (1) of this subsection applies to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>affiliates, holding companies, parent companies, or other related entities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>individuals and firms with identical or substantially identical business or economic interests;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>persons with common investments; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>firms that are economically dependent on each other through contractual or other relationships.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Notwithstanding any provisions of this title, the holder of a dispensary license issued by the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission who converts the license or a registrant with the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission may continue to deliver medical cannabis until July 1, 2027.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>A license issued under this title:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>is not property and does not confer property rights; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is subject to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>suspension, revocation, and restrictions authorized by law; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>regulations authorized under this article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On and after July 1, 2023, the holder of a license issued by the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission who does not convert the license:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may not:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>operate under the license; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>renew the license; but</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may continue to hold the license for resale to another person for conversion under this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The purchaser of a license sold by a license holder who does not convert a license under paragraph (1) of this subsection is responsible for paying the one–time conversion fee under § 36–403 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
