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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 14.17.05.05" title_num="14" subtitle_num="17" chapter_num="05" heading="Issuance of a License or Rescission of a Conditional License.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Conditional License Period.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The conditional license period:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Begins on the day that a conditional license is issued to the selected applicant; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Expires 24 months after the day that conditional license was issued or at the end of an extension granted by the Administration.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A conditional licensee may apply for an extension of the conditional license.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Administration may approve a one-time extension of up to 6 months, if the Administration determines the conditional licensee has made consistent good faith efforts to establish a cannabis business.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>For purposes of determining consistent good faith effort in §A(3) of this regulation, the Administration:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Will consider demonstrating legal control of a premises to indicate consistent good faith effort if the premises:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Is suitable for the operations of the cannabis license; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Complies with local planning and zoning requirements; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>May use its discretion to determine that a conditional licensee has demonstrated consistent good faith effort if the conditional licensee provides adequate documentation that a political subdivision has unduly burdened its efforts toward becoming operational, as defined in Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §36-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>During the conditional license period, a conditional licensee shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Complete a supplemental license application;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Establish legal control of the proposed site, through lease, purchase, or other means, for the cannabis business;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Notify the Administration of establishment of legal control of the proposed site;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Within 6 months of being issued a conditional license, demonstrate adequate capitalization to enable the business to become operational;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Gain zoning or planning approval from a political subdivision, if applicable; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Register the business with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>During a conditional license period, a conditional licensee may not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Engage in purchasing, possessing, cultivating, manufacturing, or selling cannabis or cannabis products;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Make any transfer of an ownership interest that causes a change in the individual or entity that holds the controlling ownership interest;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Make any transfer of control, as defined in COMAR 14.17.01; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>If the conditional licensee qualified as a social equity applicant, make any transfer of an ownership interest that causes the conditional licensee to no longer comply with the social equity applicant definition in COMAR 14.17.01.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>During a conditional license period, a conditional licensee may obtain additional resources by adding:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Grants and loans from new or existing financial sources not listed in the initial application; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Owners and passive investors.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Any additional resources obtained by a conditional licensee made under §A(7) of this regulation may not violate this subtitle or Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 36, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Rescission of a Conditional License. The Administration may rescind a conditional license if a conditional licensee, or any individual or entity included in the supplemental license application:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending to have conviction or plea set aside;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Fraudulently or deceptively attempts to obtain a license;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Is ineligible to hold an ownership interest in or control of a business licensed under Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 36, Subtitle 4, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Fails to reveal any material fact pertaining to the conditional licensee’s qualification for a license;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Fails to submit a complete supplemental license application;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Fails to become licensed and operational within:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>24 months after the day the conditional license was issued; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If granted an extension, the day after the expiration of any extension granted by the Administration;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Fails to comply with §A(5) and (6) of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Is not registered or in good standing with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Has taxes in arrears in any jurisdiction.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Administration may award a license on a determination that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The conditional licensee has submitted a complete supplemental license application;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The supplemental license application, including any individual or entity included in the application, does not violate §B of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The license fee specified in COMAR 14.17.21 has been paid;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>All inspections are passed, and all the conditional licensee’s operations conform to the specifications of the application as approved pursuant to this chapter; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The proposed premises:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Are under the legal control of the conditional licensee; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Comply with all zoning and planning requirements.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A licensed business may not grow, process, distribute, dispense, or otherwise begin business operations without approval of written documentation under §C of this regulation by the Administration.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The Administration may not award a license to a business who has registered with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation using a legal name that:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Uses the terms “cannabis”, “marijuana”, or other synonym related to controlled substances;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Suggests the use of cannabis as an intoxicant; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Incorporates any copyrighted material or trademark or service mark attributable to another entity.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The Administration may suspend, fine, restrict, or revoke a license, including a conditional license, if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A licensee has fraudulently or deceptively submitted written documentation to the Administration;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A licensee has violated Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 36, Subtitle 11, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A licensee began operations prior to Administration approval; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>It is determined that a licensee has not complied with statements in the application, including statements about standards of operation or employment practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>