# COMAR Title 14 — Independent Agencies

## Subtitle 17 — Maryland Cannabis Administration

### Chapter 15 — Cannabis Business Agents

**Authority:** Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §§36-202, 36-203, 36-501, and 36-1001—36-1003, Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date:

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 2023 (50:14 Md. R. 559); emergency status expired June 30, 2024

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.05 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 7, 2024 (51:14 Md. R. 676)

**Administrative History:** Regulations .01—.05 adopted effective July 22, 2024 (51:14 Md. R. 678)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .02E amended effective March 16, 2026 (53:5 Md. R. 244)

**Administrative History:** Regulation .05C amended effective April 15, 2025 (52:7 Md. R. 324); March 16, 2026 (53:5 Md. R. 244)

#### Regulation .01 Scope.

*COMAR 14.17.15.01*

A. This chapter applies to agents as defined in COMAR 14.17.01.

B. This chapter applies to individuals who are employed, volunteer, or work for management companies as defined in COMAR 14.17.06.05.

#### Regulation .02 Registration.

*COMAR 14.17.15.02*

A. To volunteer or work for a licensee or registrant, an individual shall be registered with the Administration as an agent.

B. Agent registration shall be conducted pursuant to Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §36-501, Annotated Code of Maryland.

C. A licensee shall apply to register an agent by submitting to the Administration:

  (1) The name, address, date of birth, and Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number of an agent;

  (2) Documentation of the submission of fingerprints of the agent of to the Criminal Justice Information System’s Central Repository in accordance with Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §36-505, Annotated Code of Maryland;

  (3) The request for the criminal history record information of the agent to be forwarded to the Administration.

D. As a condition of registration, an agent shall report to the Administration a conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a crime involving moral turpitude within 14 days of the conviction or plea.

E. The Administration may:

  (1) Disqualify as an agent an individual who 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;

  (2) Revoke the registration of an agent who 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; and

  (3) Disqualify as an agent an individual who previously had a registration revoked under Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §36-202(a)(7), Annotated Code of Maryland, or for good cause.

F. The Administration may not deny a cannabis agent registration based on any cannabis-related offense occurring before July 1, 2023.

#### Regulation .03 Registered Agent Identification Cards.

*COMAR 14.17.15.03*

A. The Administration shall issue to each registered agent an identification card which includes a photograph of the face of the registered agent taken no more than 6 months before the date of the application.

B. At all times every registered agent at a licensed or registered premises shall visibly wear the identification card issued to the registered agent by the Administration.

C. The agent shall apply for renewal of the identification card every 2 years.

D. If a registered agent’s identification card is lost, destroyed, or stolen, within 24 hours of becoming aware of the loss, destruction or theft, the licensee shall:

  (1) Report the loss, destruction, or theft to the Administration;

  (2) Apply for a replacement card; and

  (3) Pay a replacement card fee specified in COMAR 14.17.21.

E. An identification card remains the property of the Administration and the Administration may order the return or seizure of an identification card if the registration is revoked or expires.

F. If a registered agent’s identification card is lost, destroyed, or stolen, a copy of the notification to the Administration shall be evidence of registration until a new card is obtained from the Administration.

#### Regulation .04 Termination.

*COMAR 14.17.15.04*

A. Within 30 days of the termination of a registered agent, the licensee or registrant shall:

  (1) Take custody of the terminated registered agent’s identification card;

  (2) Obtain any keys or other entry devices from the terminated registered agent; and

  (3) Ensure the terminated registered agent can no longer gain access to the licensed premises.

B. Within 1 business day of the termination of a registered agent, a licensee or registrant shall:

  (1) Notify the Administration:

    (a) Of the termination and the circumstance of the termination; and

    (b) Whether the terminated registered agent has returned the agent’s identification card; and

  (2) Initiate delivery of the terminated registered agent’s identification card to the Administration.

C. The Administration shall revoke the registration of an agent upon receiving notification that an agent is no longer associated with a licensee.

D. If a registered agent did not return the agent’s identification card within 30 days of the termination, the Administration shall notify the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the licensee’s area.

#### Regulation .05 Training.

*COMAR 14.17.15.05*

A. The licensee shall train all registered agents on:

  (1) Federal and State cannabis laws and regulation and other laws and regulations pertinent to the agent’s responsibilities;

  (2) Standard operating procedures;

  (3) The State alcohol and drug free workplace policy, as identified in COMAR 21.11.08.03;

  (4) Detection and prevention of diversion of cannabis;

  (5) Security procedures; and

  (6) Safety procedures including responding to:

    (a) A medical emergency;

    (b) A fire;

    (c) A chemical spill; and

    (d) A threatening event such as:

      (i) An armed robbery;

      (ii) An invasion;

      (iii) A burglary; and

      (iv) Any other criminal incident.

B. The licensee shall retain training materials and attendance records and make the training materials available for inspection by the Administration.

C. Within 90 days of employment start date and annually thereafter, a registered agent employed by a cannabis licensee shall complete a responsible vendor training program that:

  (1) Meets the minimum requirements under Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §§36-1001—36-1003, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

  (2) Is registered with the Administration in accordance with §E(3) of this regulation.

D. A responsible vendor training program required under §E of this regulation shall be in addition to the training requirements under §A of this regulation.

E. Responsible Vendor Training Program.

  (1) To offer a responsible medical or adult-use cannabis vendor, server, and seller training program, a person shall submit an application to the Administration.

  (2) To be considered for approval, the proposed training program application shall meet the minimum educational standards established in Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §36-1001(c), Annotated Code of Maryland.

  (3) Applications approved by the Administration shall be registered with the Administration for a period of 3 years from the date of approval.

  (4) The Administration shall assess a fee for the application, registration, and renewal of a responsible vendor training program under this regulation as specified in COMAR 14.17.21.

  (5) A person offering a responsible vendor training program under this paragraph may not have ownership or control of any cannabis license.

  (6) A person offering a responsible vendor training program shall:

    (a) Maintain records for at least 4 years; and A

    (b) Make these records available to the Administration upon request.