# Business Regulation (GBR)

## Title 16. Cigarettes

### Subtitle 2. Cigarette Business Licenses

#### Section 16-222

(a) A person may not ship, import, or sell into or within this State any brand of cigarette unless that person:

  (1)

    (i) is the owner of the brand;

    (ii) is the United States importer for the brand; or

    (iii) is a designated agent in Maryland of:

      (1) the owner of the brand; or

      (2) the United States importer of the brand; and

  (2) holds any license required by this subtitle.

(b) A person who ships, imports, or sells cigarettes into or within this State:

  (1) shall comply with any federal and State requirements concerning the placement of warning labels or other information on the containers or individual packages of cigarettes; and

  (2) shall ensure that the containers or individual packages of cigarettes do not contain any information or markings that are false, misleading, or contrary to:

    (i) federal trademark or tax laws;

    (ii) the trademark law of this State under Title 1, Subtitle 4 of this article; or

    (iii) the tax laws of this State under Title 12 of the Tax - General Article.

(c) A person who ships, imports, or sells cigarettes into or within this State in violation of this section is subject to disciplinary action by the Executive Director under Sec. 16-210 of this subtitle and to the penalty specified in Sec. 13-1015 of the Tax - General Article.

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Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)