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The Maryland General Assembly has advanced a bill designed to curtail the extent of local government’s power in dictating the placement of new cannabis dispensaries.
This legislation, aimed at forestalling excessively stringent zoning regulations by counties, marks a pivotal moment as Maryland issues the first batch of new cannabis licenses since establishing the recreational cannabis sector last year.
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License Distribution And Local Concerns
So far, the privilege to cultivate, process or sell legal recreational cannabis has been exclusive to former medical cannabis license holders. However, with 174 new licenses recently awarded, these entities are mandated to commence operations within 18 months.
Despite this progress, specific counties, including Carroll and Prince George’s, have seen local authorities attempting to restrict dispensary locations. The Senate’s plan to limit local restrictions was approved along party lines, despite resistance from some Democrats in Prince George’s County.
These opponents express apprehension about new cannabis stores. Nevertheless, amendments allowing for some local limitations swayed their vote in favor of the bill.
In 2023, county