Maryland Releases New Cannabis License Application Information
By Meg Nash
Oct 24, 2023
The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) recently released new information about the upcoming licensing round, including application instructions, an evaluation worksheet, and application templates. MCA also published an FAQ page. A summary of the key information is included below.
Application Instructions
The 30-day application period opens on November 13, 2023, at midnight ET and closes on December 12, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET.
Submissions can be made via an online portal and will include:
- An application fee
- A copy of a Certificate of Good Standing
- Redacted and unredacted copies of a Business Plan, Operations Plan, and Diversity Plan
- Confirmation of social equity status
- A cap table
- Principal attestation
Once submitted, the MCA will notify applicants whether their applications meet the minimum requirements to be included in the lottery. Applicants who have yet to receive a notification that their application was eligible have ten days to request a records review to learn why.
Additionally, the MCA has clarified that applicants cannot submit applications for the same license types in multiple regions/counties. So, if an individual/entity applies for a standard dispensary license in multiple counties, all applications associated with that individual/entity will be denied.
View the full application instructions here
Application Templates and Evaluation Sheet
MCA provides template documents for the Business Plan, Operational Plan, and Diversity Plan. They have clearly outlined what they need to see in each document in the Evaluation Worksheet. Applicants are required to use their templates for submission.
FAQ
Questions can be submitted for the FAQ through the application deadline of December 12, 2023, but questions raised within 24 hours of the submission deadline might not be answered prior to the deadline. Expect at least one business day for a response.
Vicente LLP is staying up to date on all cannabis-related developments in Maryland. If you need help reaching your goals in this new market, please contact us. We offer a wide range of services including corporate formation, licensing, community outreach, real estate, and regulatory compliance.