Maryland House Passes Bill to Expand Micro Dispensary Workforce and Revise Marijuana Agent Training
- The bill, House Bill 622, passed the Maryland House of Delegates 118 to 12 and now moves to the Senate, with a potential effective date of July 1, 2026.
- It would double the number of workers allowed under a micro dispensary license from 10 to 20 registered cannabis agents, expanding staffing flexibility for delivery-only marijuana businesses.
- The legislation updates Maryland’s marijuana training system by replacing the responsible vendor training with a cannabis agent training program, requiring cannabis agents and on-site consumption employees to complete training every two years.
- The bill extends the delivery period for certain medical marijuana dispensaries through July 1, 2027, and maintains training requirements focused on legal, enforcement, and public health standards tied to each license type.
A bill that would expand staffing flexibility for some of Maryland’s marijuana businesses while updating state training rules has cleared the House of Delegates and now heads to the Senate. House Bill 622 was approved by the full House in a 118 to 12 vote. The measure had previously advanced from the House Economic Matters Committee with amendments. If ultimately approved by the Senate and signed into law, it would take effect July 1, 2026.
The bill would increase the number of workers allowed under a micro dispensary license from 10 to 20. Under Maryland law, a micro dispensary license allows a business to operate a delivery service without a physical storefront. By doubling the cap, the proposal would give those businesses more room to expand operations. In the version passed by the House, the limit applies specifically to 20 registered cannabis agents.
The legislation would also revise parts of Maryland’s marijuana training system. It replaces references to a responsible vendor training program with a cannabis agent training program and would require cannabis licensees to ensure each registered cannabis agent completes the training at least once every two years. On-site consumption establishments would face the same requirement for employees.
The bill would also extend through July 1, 2027 the timeframe in which certain dispensary license holders and registrants may continue delivering medical marijuana. In addition, it keeps training requirements focused on issues such as administrative and criminal liability, licensing and enforcement rules, and public health and safety standards tied to each license type.