Business

A “large gun apparatus” that was used to blow plumes of medical cannabis smoke into people’s mouths is among a slew of violations that led to the shutdown of the Cookies dispensary in Federal Hill barely a week after it opened. The Cookies dispensary had its license suspended by the Maryland Cannabis Administration on June 2, just days after its grand opening on May 27.

Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks visited Catoctin Mountain Orchard near Thurmont on Monday as part of a broader initiative to tour farms across the state and gather feedback and concerns from local farmers. Atticks said he has prior experience in Frederick County, but wanted to familiarize members of his team with farmers in the county and show the diversity of what’s being grown.

A United States District judge put a temporary restraining order on hold Monday as both sides of an insurance discrimination case work on a resolution. Judge Julie Rebecca Rubin ruled that Erie Insurance and the Maryland Insurance Administration have up to 60 days to come to a resolution following the administration’s finding in May that the Pennsylvania-based insurance company used discriminatory practices against Black Baltimore-area brokers, and thus its residents.

The Columbia-based Maryland Innovation Center’s Business Revitalization Initiative Through Entrepreneurship (BRITE) Program was honored with a 2023 NACo Achievement Award in the Community and Economic Development category, recognizing its significant contributions to empowering entrepreneurs. The award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), the foremost organization representing county-level government operations, highlights the BRITE program’s success in creating direct pathways for entrepreneurs to achieve their goals.

Luna, a provider of in-home, in-person physical therapy, and Columbia-based MedStar Health, the largest health care system in Maryland and the Washington region, Tuesday announced a partnership to improve access to, in-person outpatient physical therapy across Washington, Baltimore and northern Virginia, in collaboration with MedStar Health rehabilitation centers.

Rockville’s OpGen Inc. (NASDAQ: OPGN) has fallen out of compliance with the Nasdaq Stock Market after its share price failed to crack a buck over a 30-day period. The 20-year-old biotech said in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it received a letter from the exchange June 5 about the need to maintain the minimum bid price of $1, per its listing rules. OpGen has 180 days to regain compliance.

Six in 10 Maryland voters oppose a plan to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles in the state in 12 years. Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced this year that the state would recommit to aggressive climate goals involving the sales of electric vehicles. A poll released by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media Service found a majority of voters oppose the plan even if it meant significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

With Pride Month celebrations in full swing, the fate of Baltimore’s gay bars and nightspots remains uncertain just as the LGBTQ community faces a myriad of mounting concerns. Two of the city’s largest bars and venues — Central and The Manor — remain shuttered, with no indication that either will be open for Pride Week activities this month.