Maryland Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis § 1-323

(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Administration” has the meaning stated in § 36-101 of this article.

(3) “Cannabis licensee” has the meaning stated in § 36-101 of this article.

(4) “Grant Program” means the Social Equity Partnership Grant Program.

(5) “Office” means the Office of Social Equity.

(7) “Social equity licensee” has the meaning stated in § 36-101 of this article.

(b)(1) There is a Social Equity Partnership Grant Program in the Office.

(2) The purpose of the Grant Program is to promote qualifying partnerships between operational cannabis licensees and social equity licensees.

(c)(1) The Office shall implement and administer the Grant Program, including by clearly defining the parameters of a qualifying partnership.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Office has discretion to approve, deny, or revoke qualifying partnerships.

(d)(1) The Office shall award grants to operational cannabis licensees that have qualifying partnerships with a social equity licensee.

(2) Grant amounts shall be based on the nature of the qualifying partnership between the social equity licensee and the operational cannabis licensee.

(3) If an operational cannabis licensee has a license that was converted by the Administration under § 36-401(b)(1)(ii) of this article, the total amount of grants issued by the Office under this section to the licensee may not exceed:

(1) implement the provisions of this section;

(2) administer the Grant Program;

(3) establish eligibility and grant application requirements;

(4) establish a process for reviewing grant applications and awarding grants to operational cannabis licensees; and

(5) specify criteria and procedures to monitor eligibility for the grants authorized under this section.