{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-alcoholic-beverages-and-cannabis-36-1101","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 36–1101","heading":"","body":"(a) A cannabis licensee may not sell, transfer, or deliver cannabis or cannabis products unless the licensee verifies by means of a valid driver’s license or other government–issued photo identification containing the bearer’s date of birth that:\n(1) for adult–use cannabis, the consumer is at least 21 years old; or\n(2) for medical cannabis, the patient or caregiver is:\n(i) registered with the Administration; and\n(ii) at least 18 years old.\n(b) (1) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a licensee that sells, transfers, or delivers cannabis or cannabis products in violation of subsection (a) of this section is subject to a civil penalty of:\n1. $500 for a first violation;\n2. $1,000 for a second violation occurring within 24 months after the first violation; and\n3. $5,000 for each subsequent violation occurring within 24 months after the immediately preceding violation.\n(ii) A violation of subsection (a) of this section that occurs more than 24 months after the immediately preceding violation shall be treated as a first violation.\n(2) The Administration may deny a cannabis license to an applicant, reprimand a cannabis licensee, or suspend or revoke a cannabis license if the applicant or licensee violates subsection (a) of this section two or more times in a 24–month period.\n(3) In a hearing for an alleged violation of this section, it is a defense that an agent of the defendant examined the consumer’s, patient’s, or caregiver’s driver’s license or other valid identification issued by a governmental unit that positively identified the consumer, patient, or caregiver as meeting the minimum age specified in subsection (a) of this section.\n(c) (1) A cannabis licensee may not:\n(i) sell, transfer, or deliver cannabis to an individual who is visibly intoxicated;\n(ii) offer cannabis or cannabis products as a prize, premium, or consideration for a lottery, contest, game of chance, game of skill, or competition of any kind; or\n(iii) conduct direct–to–consumer Internet sales of adult–use cannabis on or before July 1, 2025.\n(2) A cannabis licensee that violates paragraph (1) of this subsection is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, suspension or revocation of a license, or both.","path":["Article - Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gab\u0026section=36-1101","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:56:03Z","sha256":"4416d7207405a26c5e7b78fcba4c809317cedb4b3a2e2965f3ee5722389cc3c7","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-alcoholic-beverages-and-cannabis-36-1003","next":"us-md/md.-code-alcoholic-beverages-and-cannabis-36-1102"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}