December 14th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
The initial licensing round for new cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries closed on December 12, with more than 1,700 applications submitted. This round marked the first cannabis licensing round in the nation that was exclusively open to qualifying social equity applicants. The Maryland Cannabis Administration may award up to 179 licenses in this round, and is now reviewing each application to determine whether it meets the minimum requirements for licensing. Any application that meets the minimum requirements will be placed into a lottery based on region or county, depending on the type of license.