A Review of all the Cannabis legislation introduced in the Maryland State Legislature
| Bill# | Cross File# | Title | Description | Senate Hearing and Voting | House Hearing and Voting | Senate Lead Sponsor(s) | House Lead Sponsor(s) | |
| 1 | HB0217 | SB0900 | Income Tax – Subtraction Modification – Expenses of Medical Cannabis Grower, Processor, Dispensary, or Independent Testing Laboratory | This bill allows what is known as a “subtraction modification” for MD income taxes for any expenses incurred during the year as a medical cannabis grower, processor, dispensary, or testing laboratory. | In the Senate – Hearing 3/09 at 1:00 p.m., Budget and Taxation | Ways and Means 1/21/2021 – 1:30 PM Health and Government Operations | Senator Peters | Delegate Wilkins |
| 2 | HB0032 | N/A | Cannabis – Legalization and Regulation (Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act of 2021) | This bill established age limits and defines civil offenses for cannabis. It also has parts that include civil offenses for unlawful cultivation, licensing requirements for cannabis establishments. It also outlines the ATF’s responsibility for licensing cannabis establishments. | N/A | In the House – Hearing 2/16 at 1:30 p.m. (Judiciary) Health and Government Operations | N/A | Delegate Lewis, J. |
| 3 | HB0453 | N/A | Health – Medical Cannabis Reauthorization Act | This bill repeals the limit on the number of licenses the MD Cannabis Commission may give to growers and processors. It also stops the Commission from rescinding preapprovals and repeals the requirement to decrease licenses in favor of conducting studies for the future number of licenses. | N/A | In the House – hearing 2/16 at 1:30pm, Health and Government Operations | N/A | Delegate Barnes, D. |
| 4 | HB0581 | SB0486 | Labor and Employment – Employment Standards During an Emergency (Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection Act) | This bill involves essential employees and their rights. It requires essential employers to notify their employees about hazard pay, take safety actions while in emergency situations, and have a non-retaliation policy against those essential workers. It also allows the employee to refuse work in certain situations. | In the Senate – Hearing 2/11 at 1:00 p.m. | 2/05/2021 – 11:00 AM Appropriations Economic Matters | Sen Augustine | Delegate Davis, D.E. |
| 5 | HB0706 | N/A | Medical Cannabis – Dispensary Grower–Processor License | This bill requires the MD Cannabis Commission to license growers and processers to be able to function if certain requirements are met. The growers and processors must provide and application, must not have any negative disciplinary actions by the committee, and must meet all deadlines. This bill also requires the Commission to establish an application review process. | N/A | In the House – Hearing 2/16 at 1:30 p.m., Health and Government Operations | N/A | Delegate Ivey |
| 6 | HB0324 | SB0143 | Criminal Law – Marijuana – Possession and Possession With Intent to Distribute | This bill increases the amount of cannabis that defines criminal vs. civil offenses from 10 grams to one ounce. It also denotes that a person in possession of less than an ounce is not in violation of certain cannabis legislative provisions. | In the Senate – Hearing 1/20 at 11:00 a.m. Judicial Proceedings | In the Senate – First Reading, Judicial Proceedings In the House Judiciary | Sens Waldstreicher and Carter | Delegate Moon |
| 7 | HB0415 | N/A | Firearms – Right to Purchase, Own, Possess, and Carry – Medical Cannabis | This bill guarantees the right of a medical cannabis user to purchase, own, possess, or carry a gun. It also states that medical cannabis is legal and the State should not penalize a user because medical cannabis is legal. | N/A | In the house – Hearing 3/10 at 1:30pm, Judiciary | N/A | Delegate Grammer |
| 8 | HB0488 | N/A | Criminal Law – Use or Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – De Minimis Quantity | This bill makes certain violations of certain quantities of controlled substances a civil offense rather than a criminal misdemeanor. It changes the penalties for possession of less than 1- grams from “marijuana” to use or possession of a “de minimis quantity” of specific controlled substances. | N/A | In the House – Hearing 2/02 at 1:30 p.m., Judiciary | Delegate Moon | |
| 9 | HB0543 | SB0190 | Firearms – Right to Purchase, Possess, and Carry – Use of Medical Cannabis | This bill states that a person cannot be denied their right to purchase, carry, and possess a gun/firearm because they are a medical cannabis user. | In the Senate – Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings | In the House – Hearing 3/10 at 1:30 p.m. Judiciary | Senator Hough | Delegate Hornberger |
| 10 | HB0683 | SB0461 | Workers’ Compensation – Medical Cannabis – Compensation and Benefits | This bill states that a person can be denied workers’ compensation and benefits if they use medical cannabis without the written certification of a certifying provider or physician. | In the Senate – Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m., Finance | In the House – Hearing 2/09 at 1:30 p.m., Economic Matters, Health and Government Operations | Senator Feldman | Delegate Valderrama |
| 11 | HB0925 | N/A | Workgroup on Medical Cannabis Use by Pregnant and Nursing Women | This bill establishes a Workgroup on Medical Cannabis use by Pregnant and Nursing Women including its composition, chairman, and staffing. The members of the Workgroup are restricted from taking certain compensation but are reimbursed for expenses. It also requires the Workgroup to report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly no later than December 31, 2020. | N/A | In the House – Hearing 3/09 at 1:30 p.m., Health and Government Operations | N/A | Delegate Arikan |
| 12 | SB0504 | N/A | Discrimination in Employment – Use of Medical Cannabis – Prohibition | This bill provides protection for employees who use medical cannabis. It prohibits an employer from discriminating against a user for a written recommendation for medical cannabis or a positive drug test. The employer can make policies that prohibit an employee from doing certain duties while under the influence of cannabis. | Senate – Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m., Judicial Proceedings | N/A | Senator Smith | N/A |
| 13 | SB0708 | N/A | Cannabis – Legalization and Regulation | This bill replaces the word “marijuana” with “cannabis” in legislative language. It also changes the amount and age limit for civil offenses involving cannabis. It establishes funds for social equity including the Social Equity Start-Up Fund, the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, the Cannabis Regulation Fund, and the Cannabis Education and Training Fund. | In the Senate – Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m., Finance, Budget and Taxation | N/A | Senators Feldman, Ferguson, Guzzone, King, Smith, Waldstreicher, and Washington | N/A |
| 14 | SB0884 | N/A | Medical Cannabis – Visiting Qualifying Patients | This bill prohibits a visiting qualifying medical cannabis patient from being required to have written certification or a medical ID card. This would allow a visiting cannabis patient access to a Cannabis Commission licensed dispensary or agent. | In the Senate – Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m., Finance | N/A | Senator Klausmeier | N/A |
See Erika’s selection of cannabis writing products. 
Contact Erika today. 
Stay up to date on the cannabis industry.