Mary & Main, a Capitol Heights dispensary owned by CHA Enterprises, Inc., has agreed to pay a $13,000 fine to the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) for failing to properly report ownership changes and for late and inaccurate disclosures.
Key Findings:
In 2018, CHA Enterprises shareholders exchanged their shares for membership in a holding company, CHA Holdings LLC, effectively transferring ownership of the dispensary license without approval from the MCA. Maryland law prohibits ownership transfers of cannabis licenses within the first 3 years of operation. (The MCA acknowledges this transfer might have been allowed with prior approval due to no change in controlling interests.) From 2020 to 2023, Mary & Main failed to disclose in its annual filings that CHA Holdings LLC was the sole owner. The dispensary also failed to promptly respond to the MCA’s requests for information regarding the ownership changes.
Repercussions:
Mary & Main will pay a $3,000 fine for inaccurate reporting and a $10,000 fine for the unauthorized transfers. The dispensary must submit retroactive applications for approval of the ownership transfers and pay any associated fees. They are also responsible for all costs associated with complying with the Consent Order.
Significance:
Accurate ownership