1. (a) There is a Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council.

2. (b) The Advisory Council consists of the following members:

   1. (1) One member from the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;
   2. (2) One member from the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
   3. (3) The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee;
   4. (4) The Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health, or the Deputy Secretary's designee;
   5. (5) The Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary's designee;
   6. (6) The Director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, or the Director's designee;
   7. (7) The State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent's designee;
   8. (8) The Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, or the Executive Director's designee;
   9. (9) The Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Administration, or the Administrator's designee;
   10. (10) The Executive Director of the Office of Social Equity in the Maryland Cannabis Administration, or the Executive Director's designee; and

   11. (11) The following members appointed by the Governor:

       1. (i) One representative from a historically black college or university;
       2. (ii) One health care provider with experience in cannabis;
       3. (iii) One pharmacist licensed in the State;
       4. (iv) One health care provider with expertise in substance use disorder treatment and recovery;
       5. (v) One individual with expertise in cannabis use disorder;
       6. (vi) One academic researcher with expertise in cannabis law and policy;
       7. (vii) One individual with at least 5 years of experience in health or social equity;
       8. (viii) One public health professional with cannabis experience; and
       9. (ix) One representative of a laboratory that tests cannabis.

3. (c)

   1. (1) To the extent practicable and consistent with federal and State law, the membership of the Advisory Council shall reflect the gender, ethnic, and racial diversity of the State.
   2. (2) The membership of the Advisory Council shall include residents of rural and urban regions of the State.
4. (d) A member of the Advisory Council shall file a financial disclosure statement with the State Ethics Commission in accordance with Title 5, Subtitle 6 of the General Provisions Article.

5. (e)

   1. (1) The term of an appointed member is 4 years.
   2. (2) The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for the appointed members of the Advisory Council on January 1, 2023.
   3. (3) At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
   4. (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
   5. (5) An appointed member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms.

Added by Acts 2022, c. 26, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2023. Amended by Acts 2024, c. 1, § 1, eff. May 1, 2024; Acts 2025, c. 364, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 365, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.