Maryland officially launches legal recreational marijuana marketing in July

Maryland began selling recreational marijuana in July, just eight months after voters in the state backed a ballot measure to legalize adult cannabis.

 

The first day of recreational marijuana sales drew a large line of customers to the state’s marijuana distribution stores, some of which passed a bill in the spring to regulate the market for adult-use marijuana.

 

Maryland voters passed a Question 4 state referendum to legalize recreational marijuana in November, which passed with nearly two-thirds of the vote, according to Forbes.

In April, lawmakers passed a bill with standards regulating the production and sale of adult-use marijuana, effective July 1, which was then signed into law by Governor Wes Moore in early May.

Under the bill, adults in Maryland who are 21 years of age or older and have legal identification will be allowed to purchase regulated marijuana products, which include cannabis flower, e-cigarettes, fudge and more, and conducting sales will begin with the state’s existing medical marijuana retailers.

The bill also renames the Maryland Medical Marijuana Commission as the Maryland Cannabis Authority, which is responsible for regulating the production and sale of marijuana.

Will Tilburg, acting director of the new agency, said that along with the launch of recreational marijuana sales, Maryland’s marijuana for sale is scheduled to triple in the next year.