Maryland cannabis businesses and applicants question timetable for approving licenses

Some potential cannabis businesses are criticizing the tight turnaround to obtain new licenses to grow, process or distribute marijuana, after the Maryland Cannabis Administration announced applications will open on Nov. 13, with distribution set to start just six weeks later on Jan. 1. The bill that legalized cannabis for individuals 21 and older in Maryland that took effect July 1 created a timeline for the recreational industry, including a two-round licensing process for new cannabis businesses that will initially prioritize applicants who qualify for social equity, an initiative aimed to remediate harm from the criminalization of cannabis.