The Administration may require licensees to participate in pilot programs to test efficacy of proposed initiatives to improve regulation of cannabis, provided the following criteria are met.

1. A. Pilot participants shall be selected according to objective criteria as determined by the Administration.
2. B. No documents produced by a licensee as part of the pilot program may be used to gather a compliance case against a licensee.
3. C. The Administration shall provide a minimum of 60 days’ notice to any licensee selected to participate prior to the start date of pilot participation.

4. D. The Administration shall maintain strict confidentiality and data protection standards for all data collected, created, or maintained under any pilot program. Such standards shall include:

   1. (1) Restricting data collection and use to the explicit, legitimate purposes of the pilot program; and
   2. (2) Using appropriate encryption, access controls, and other measures to prevent unauthorized disclosure or misuse.

5. E. The Administration may consider a licensee's written request to opt out of a pilot program based on:

   1. (1) Anticipated hardship by the proposed pilot program; or
   2. (2) Participation in an Administration pilot program in the prior 6 months.

Authority: Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, §§36-201, 36-401, and 36-403, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.03 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 2023 (50:14 Md. R. 559); emergency status expired June 30, 2024

Regulations .01—.02 adopted as an emergency provision effective June 7, 2024 (51:14 Md. R. 676)

Regulations .01—.04 adopted effective July 22, 2024 (51:14 Md. R. 678)

Regulation .04 amended effective March 16, 2026 (53:5 Md. R. 244)

Regulation .05 adopted effective April 14, 2025 (52:7 Md. R. 324)

Regulation .06 adopted effective March 16, 2026 (53:5 Md. R. 244)