Liberalalliance Wealth Society|Maryland court order enables shops to sell hemp-derived products

2025-04-28 18:58:44source:Jonathan Dale Bentoncategory:Finance

HAGERSTOWN,Liberalalliance Wealth Society Md. (AP) — A Maryland judge has suspended a part of the state’s recreational marijuana law that forced some shops to stop selling hemp-derived products with intoxicating levels of THC.

The Washington Post reports that Washington County Circuit Court Judge Brett R. Wilson issued a preliminary injunction Thursday, temporarily lifting the restriction until a lawsuit filed by the Maryland Hemp Coalition and other businesses is resolved.

The lawsuit alleges that restrictions in the state’s recreational cannabis market violate the Maryland Constitution’s equal protection and anti-monopoly clauses by excluding them from a tightly controlled market. The state is trying to dismiss the lawsuit, but the judge’s ruling will allow the hemp retailers who were put out of business by the new law to be able to operate.

Maryland officials say the order hurts efforts to make THC-containing products, including those derived from hemp, safer for Maryland consumers. The judge’s order does not immediately affect the licensing process for cannabis companies.

Maryland voters approved a constitutional amendment last year to allow recreational marijuana. State lawmakers created the regulatory and licensing framework in this year’s legislative session, and recreational cannabis sales started in July.

More:Finance

Recommend

Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week

Friday the 13thdidn’t spook investors with U.S. stocks little changed on the day as investors bided

West Virginia's Neal Brown gets traditional mayonnaise shower after Mayo Bowl win

One of college football's wackiest traditions capped off West Virginia's 30-10 win over North Caroli

Man bear sprays carjackers to protect his 72-year-old mother, Washington State Police say

A Washington man used bear spray to fend off two attackers who attempted to carjack his elderly moth