The Maryland Hashish Administration (MCA) has fined Baltimore-based CannaMD, LLC, doing enterprise as Releaf Store, $2,500 for violating state promoting restrictions throughout the 2023 Scorching August Music Competition. In response to the Closing Willpower and Order issued Could 13, 2025, MCA discovered that the corporate’s branded tent and signage have been positioned close to a playground throughout the August 19, 2023, occasion, which featured a “children’ nook” and different youth-oriented actions. State regulators concluded that this placement not directly focused people beneath the age of 21, in violation of Maryland’s hashish promoting guidelines.
The enforcement motion stems from MCA’s interpretation of Part 36-903(a)(2)(ii) of the Alcoholic Drinks and Hashish Article, which prohibits promoting that immediately or not directly targets minors. Whereas an administrative legislation choose initially really useful dismissing the fees, MCA rejected that discovering, figuring out that intent just isn’t required for a violation—solely that an commercial fairly reaches an underage viewers. Officers additionally famous that CannaMD had beforehand been fined in June 2023 for utilizing a freeway billboard, making this the corporate’s second promoting violation inside 24 months.
Throughout the proceedings, the MCA withdrew different prices, together with an allegation that the show constituted a prohibited “print publication” beneath a separate subsection of the legislation. The company discovered inadequate proof to find out whether or not at the very least 85% of the competition’s viewers was over 21, a requirement for sure varieties of promoting. Nonetheless, the MCA maintained that the tent’s visibility and placement at an occasion with identified kids’s programming justified the penalty beneath the oblique focusing on provision.
Beneath the order, CannaMD should pay the $2,500 advantageous to the Hashish Enterprise Help Fund inside three months. The choice is a public report and could be appealed to the Circuit Courtroom for Anne Arundel County inside 30 days. The case highlights the strict enforcement method Maryland regulators are taking towards hashish promoting, particularly at occasions that appeal to mixed-age audiences.
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