Maryland Dispensary Fined For Advertising Violations Targeting Minors
CannaMD LLC will be fined $2,500 by the MCA
The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) has fined Baltimore-based CannaMD, LLC, doing business as Releaf Shop, $2,500 for violating state advertising restrictions during the 2023 Hot August Music Festival. According to the Final Determination and Order issued May 13, 2025, MCA found that the company’s branded tent and signage were placed near a playground during the August 19, 2023, event, which featured a “kids’ corner” and other youth-oriented activities. State regulators concluded that this placement indirectly targeted individuals under the age of 21, in violation of Maryland’s cannabis advertising rules.
The enforcement action stems from MCA’s interpretation of Section 36-903(a)(2)(ii) of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, which prohibits advertising that directly or indirectly targets minors. While an administrative law judge initially recommended dismissing the charges, MCA rejected that finding, determining that intent is not required for a violation—only that an advertisement reasonably reaches an underage audience. Officials also noted that CannaMD had previously been fined in June 2023 for using a highway billboard, making this the company’s second advertising violation within 24 months.
During the proceedings, the MCA withdrew other charges, including an allegation that the display constituted a prohibited “print publication” under a separate subsection of the law. The agency found insufficient evidence to determine whether at least 85% of the festival’s audience was over 21, a requirement for certain types of advertising. Nonetheless, the MCA maintained that the tent’s visibility and location at an event with known children’s programming justified the penalty under the indirect targeting provision.
Under the order, CannaMD must pay the $2,500 fine to the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund within three months. The decision is a public record and can be appealed to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County within 30 days. The case highlights the strict enforcement approach Maryland regulators are taking toward cannabis advertising, especially at events that attract mixed-age audiences.
