<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 14.17.06.05" title_num="14" subtitle_num="17" chapter_num="06" heading="Management Agreements.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Definitions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In this regulation, the following terms have the meaning indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Terms Defined. “Management company” means an entity that provides management services to a licensed entity.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Management Agreement.</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>“Management agreement” means an arrangement between a management company and a licensee for the provision of services, including but not limited to consulting, advisory, or marketing services related to the licensee’s operations.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>“Management agreement” does not include arrangements for legal, financial, or other services that do not delegate operational aspects of the business to the service provider.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Management company” means an entity that provides management services to a licensed entity.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A management company shall be:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Approved by the Administration, in a manner prescribed by the Administration; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In good standing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A licensee shall provide a copy of a management agreement to the Administration and include:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Information detailing any compensation paid in exchange for the management services;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Criminal history record and financial information of the third party providing the management services; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Any other information relevant to the management agreement requested by the Administration.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A management agreement may not take effect unless the Administration has:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Received proper notice of the management agreement, as specified in §C of this regulation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Received the required fee specified in COMAR 14.17.21; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Approved the management agreement.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The Administration may deny a management agreement:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the management agreement constitutes an invalid transfer of an ownership interest in a license, as specified in Regulation .04 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the criminal history record information or the background investigation reveals the personnel of a third party providing the management services 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 the conviction or plea set aside;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the management agreement transfers control of a license:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In violation of Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §36-503, Annotated Code of Maryland; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>As established in §H of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If the licensee fails to produce additional documentation requested by the Administration;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If the management agreement is found to be in violation of §G of this regulation; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>For any other good cause.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>In the case of material change to a management agreement, including but not limited to a change of ownership or control of the management company, the licensee shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Provide any relevant records, files, or information to the Administration; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Receive Administration approval prior to the material change to the management agreement taking effect.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>A management agreement under this regulation may not require a licensee to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Operate the business under a marketing plan or system that is associated with the trademark, service mark, trade name, logotype, advertising, or other commercial symbol that designates the licensee as same or similar to the management company;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Offer, sell, or distribute cannabis or cannabis products under a marketing plan or system prescribed in substantial part by the entity providing the management agreement;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Limit the offerings of cannabis or cannabis products to another licensed entity holding a direct or indirect financial relationship to the management company; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Sell or transfer ownership interest in the license at a later date to the management company.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>A management agreement may constitute a transfer of control if it conveys to a management company:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Unilateral control as defined in COMAR 14.17.01; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The right or authority to make major marketing, production, and financial decisions, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The right or authority to operate the business under a trademark, service mark, trade name, logotype, or other commercial symbol that is the same as the management company or another licensee;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The right or authority to purchase a controlling interest in, or control of, the license at a later date; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The right to or actual payment from the licensee over the course of a calendar year exceeding the greatest of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>25 percent of the licensee’s gross revenue;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>50 percent of the licensee’s net profits; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>$250,000.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>