<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".12" citation="COMAR 14.17.06.12" title_num="14" subtitle_num="17" chapter_num="06" heading="Protest of Renewal.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Individuals may file a protest against cannabis license renewal with the Administration in a manner prescribed by the Administration.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A valid filing of a protest against license renewal under this regulation shall be made by ten or more individuals who are located within 1,000 feet of the license location and are:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Residents;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Commercial tenants; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Real estate owners.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A protest against license renewal shall be made on the basis of:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A violation by the licensee of this subtitle or Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, Title 36, Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A violation by the licensee of civil or criminal law; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Conduct by the licensee that creates or maintains conditions that allow other individuals to act in a manner that disturbs the public peace, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Obstruction of public rights-of-way by unruly crowds;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Assault, battery, or other disorderly conduct that disturbs the public peace;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Vandalism; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Littering.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Reasonable Grounds.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Individuals may only demonstrate reasonable grounds for a protest against license renewal by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submitting criminal or civil citations, violations, incident reports, or other sanctions against the licensee by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Local law enforcement;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The Maryland Cannabis Administration;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The Alcohol, Tobacco or Cannabis Commission; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Any other unit of government with the legal authority to issue fines, citations, or other violations; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Submitting criminal or civil citation, violations, or other sanctions against an individual for conduct occurring within 1,000 feet of the licensed establishment by:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Local law enforcement; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Any other unit of government with the legal authority to issue fines, citations, or other violations.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Administration shall determine if the protest filed is based on reasonable grounds.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In making the determination of reasonable grounds, the Administration may consider the number of citations, violations, or other sanctions filed under §D(1) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A submission under §D(1) of this regulation may only be used for the purposes of a single protest against license renewal filing.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Protest of Renewal Hearing.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If the Administration determines that the protest is based on reasonable grounds, the Administration shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Hold a hearing in accordance with COMAR 14.17.22 of this subtitle; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Notify the licensee no later than 30 days prior to the hearing date.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A hearing under this regulation shall be held within 6 months of the determination by the Administration that the protest was filed on the basis of reasonable grounds.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Sanctions.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>As a result of a hearing held under this regulation, the Administration may immediately:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Suspend, fine, or revoke a license; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Develop a corrective action plan for the licensee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In determining sanctions against the licensee, the Administration may consider the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Number of individuals filing the protest;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Grounds on which the protest was filed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Number of citations, violations, or other sanctions filed against the license as a part of the protest against license renewal; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Any prior protest against license renewal filings or other violations issued by the Administration.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>