On July 1, Maryland will implement new cannabis restrictions—capping THC content in unlicensed products and boosting regulatory oversight of legal cannabis.
The new law, HB 12/SB 214, prohibits unlicensed cannabis products from containing more than 0.5 mg THC per serving or over 2.5 mg per package. Those selling or distributing such items without a license face misdemeanor charges and fines up to $5,000 .
Licensed dispensaries, dual-licensed to sell both medical and recreational cannabis, remain unaffected—but unlicensed retailers must comply or risk enforcement (). The crackdown targets THC products without proper oversight on the market, with the aim of protecting consumers, particularly youths, from illegal goods that have not been tested or are potent. ().
These cannabis rules join sweeping energy and environmental reforms—like clean energy assessments and Chesapeake Bay protection—that also begin July 1. But for shoppers and vendors, the cannabis changes mark a significant shift in Maryland’s regulatory landscape .