# COMAR Title 14 — Independent Agencies

## Subtitle 17 — Maryland Cannabis Administration

### Chapter 09 — Other Cannabis Businesses

**Authority:** Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §§36-202, 36-203, 36-401, and 36-409, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date:

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.05 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 2023 (50:14 Md. R. 559); emergency status expired June 30, 2024)

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.04 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 7, 2024 (51:14 Md. R. 676)

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.04 adopted effective July 22, 2024 (51:14 Md. R. 678)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02 amended effective April 14, 2025 (52:7 Md. R. 324)

#### Regulation .01 Scope.

*COMAR 14.17.09.01*

This chapter applies to any registrant who conducts transportation, disposal, or security services for any cannabis licensee in Maryland.

#### Regulation .02 Cannabis Registrants.

*COMAR 14.17.09.02*

A. A registrant shall be registered with the Administration prior to providing any laboratory, transportation, disposal, or security services for any cannabis licensee in Maryland.

B. To register, a cannabis business shall submit:

  (1) A completed registration form in the manner specified by the Administration;

  (2) The name of each agent for the cannabis business;

  (3) The registration fee specified in COMAR 14.17.21;

  (4) Any secure cannabis transport vehicle for inspection by the Administration; and

  (5) Proof that fingerprints have been submitted to CJIS and the FBI for every cannabis agent.

C. The Administration may approve a cannabis registration if the business:

  (1) Submits a complete and accurate registration form;

  (2) Is authorized to do business in Maryland; and

  (3) Pays the required fee specified in COMAR 14.17.21.

D. The Administration may deny a registration or renewal for any good cause as determined by the Administration.

E. The Administration may collect demographic information from applicants at the time of registration.

F. The Administration may deny or revoke a cannabis business registration if any agent or individual with ownership interest in the business is convicted of or pleads 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.

G. The registration is valid for 2 years.

H. The business may renew its registration by submitting to the Administration:

  (1) A registration renewal form completed in the manner specified by the Administration; and

  (2) The registration fee established in COMAR 14.17.21.

I. A licensee may only contract with Administration-registered cannabis businesses for the provisions of services under this regulation.

#### Regulation .03 Transport Operations.

*COMAR 14.17.09.03*

A. This regulation governs the transport of cannabis or cannabis products by a licensed grower, processor, dispensary, or a registered transporter business between the premises of licensees, independent testing laboratories, the State Cannabis Testing Laboratory, and for green waste disposal.

B. A licensee or registrant shall ensure:

  (1) Agents have on their person their current, active driver’s license;

  (2) Agents have on their person Administration-issued proof of:

    (a) The licensee’s or registrant’s current licensure or registration; and

    (b) Their own registration;

  (3) While in transit, agents do not wear any clothing or symbols that may indicate ownership or possession of cannabis;

  (4) Each vehicle used to transport cannabis is operated by at least one registered agent; and

  (5) All cannabis is transported in one or more locked and secure storage containers which may not be accessible while in transit.

C. A vehicle used to transport cannabis:

  (1) Shall have and display current vehicle registration;

  (2) Shall be insured as required by law;

  (3) Shall be equipped with locked and secure storage containers anchored to the inside of the vehicle;

  (4) Shall conceal storage containers so they are not visible or identifiable from outside of the vehicle; and

  (5) May not display any sign or illustration related to cannabis or a licensee.

D. The requirements in §C(2) and (3) do not apply to a registrant that only disposes of green waste.

E. Electronic Manifest.

  (1) A shipping licensee shall create an electronic manifest to record the chain of custody for each cannabis shipment.

  (2) The electronic manifest shall record:

    (a) The name and address of the shipping licensee;

    (b) The shipping licensee’s shipment identification number;

    (c) The weight and description of each individual package that is part of the shipment, and the total number of individual packages;

    (d) The name of the registered grower agent, processor agent, or dispensary agent that prepared the shipment;

    (e) The name and address of the receiving licensee or other receiving party if applicable; and

    (f) Any handling or storage instructions.

  (3) The electronic manifest shall contain the following entries as points in the chain of custody:

    (a) An entry by a registered grower agent, registered processor agent, or registered dispensary agent who has prepared the shipment, including the date and time of preparation;

    (b) An entry by a registered grower agent, processor agent, or dispensary agent of the date and time of the placement of the shipment into the secure cannabis transport vehicle;

    (c) An entry by the receiving licensee’s agent receiving the shipment, including the date and time of the acceptance; and

    (d) If any other person had custody or control of the shipment, that person’s identity, the circumstances, duration, and disposition.

F. Delivering and Receiving Cannabis Shipments.

  (1) Upon arrival of a secure cannabis transport vehicle, the shipping licensee agent who delivers the shipment shall notify an appropriate receiving licensee agent to continue the chain of custody in the electronic manifest of the shipment of cannabis or cannabis products.

  (2) An agent of the receiving licensee shall:

    (a) Log into the seed-to-sale tracking system;

    (b) Take custody of a shipment of products containing cannabis;

    (c) Confirm that:

      (i) The agent who delivers the shipment is carrying appropriate identification;

      (ii) The packaging is secure, undamaged, and appropriately labeled;

      (iii) Each package in the shipment is labeled as described in the electronic manifest; and

      (iv) The contents of the shipment are as described in the electronic manifest;

    (d) Record the confirmations in the electronic manifest;

    (e) Obtain in the electronic manifest the signature or identification number of the agent who delivers the shipment;

    (f) Record in the electronic manifest the date and time the receiving licensee agent takes custody of the shipment;

    (g) Enter the products containing cannabis into the seed-to-sale tracking system;

    (h) Segregate the items in the shipment from the inventory until the item can be inspected;

    (i) Inspect each item to ensure that the packaging of each item is undamaged, accurate, and complete; and

    (j) Upon determining the item passes inspection, release the item into the stock.

  (3) The agent who delivers the shipment shall provide a copy of the electronic manifest for the shipment to the receiving licensee.

  (4) The agent who delivers the shipment shall provide the completed electronic manifest to the shipping licensee.

  (5) The shipping licensee shall retain the electronic manifest for the shipment for 2 years.

  (6) Discrepancy in the Shipment.

    (a) A discrepancy between the electronic manifest and the shipment, identified by an agent who delivers the shipment or a receiving agent, shall be reported by each agent to the agent’s supervisor.

    (b) If a discrepancy can be immediately rectified, the accepting processor supervisor shall record the rectification in the electronic manifest.

    (c) A discrepancy that cannot be immediately rectified shall be reported to the Administration by the receiving licensee within 24 hours of the observation of the discrepancy and the shipping licensee shall initiate an investigation of the discrepancy.

    (d) The shipping licensee shall submit to the Administration:

      (i) Within 7 calendar days of the observation of the discrepancy, a preliminary report of an investigation of a discrepancy; and

      (ii) Within 30 calendar days, a final report of the investigation.

G. Licensees and registrants transporting or receiving edible cannabis products shall comply with COMAR 14.17.11.14.

H. A registered transporter business may not deliver cannabis to qualifying patients, registered caregivers, or adult-use consumers.

#### Regulation .04 Incubator Spaces.

*COMAR 14.17.09.04*

A. An incubator space may provide one or more of the following:

  (1) Secure storage of cannabis or cannabis products for licensed micro dispensaries;

  (2) Commercial kitchen space for the processing and production of cannabis products by licensed micro processors; or

  (3) Space for the cultivation of cannabis by licensed micro growers.

B. An incubator space shall comply with the requirements of COMAR 14.17.10, 14.17.11, and 14.17.12 for the:

  (1) Security of the premises;

  (2) Sanitation of any cannabis or cannabis product produced at the incubator space;

  (3) Safety of any cannabis cultivated at the incubator space, including the use of pesticides;

  (4) Storage of cannabis and cannabis products; and

  (5) Use of the seed-to-sale tracking system.

C. The incubator space licensee shall make a good faith effort to:

  (1) Secure any cannabis, cannabis products, inventory, equipment, or other materials on the licensed premise; and

  (2) Prevent theft or diversion of any cannabis, cannabis products, inventory, equipment, or other materials by license holders, agents, or members of the public.

D. The incubator space licensee holder may assess a fair market rent for the use or storage of the facility.

E. The incubator space licensee may not accept or receive any equity stake, ownership share, or control of a micro license facility as a condition of rent or use of the space.