The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) suspended the business license of Cookies Baltimore on June 2, nearly a week after the medical cannabis dispensary’s grand opening in Baltimore.
Cookies opened its Baltimore location on May 27 in light of adult-use sales launching in the state on July 1.
According to the summary suspension order, MCA investigators inspected Cookies' location on May 26 and found several violations of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
According to the order, the investigators also requested necessary information from Cookies before opening its Baltimore location, which the dispensary never provided May 27.
According to the order, MCA saw a publicly available video posted to Cookies’ social media, which showed "large plumes of medical cannabis smoke being blown from a large gun apparatus into the mouths of persons outside the dispensary. The gun contained a sticker with a Cookies logo on it. The video also captured images of this individual inside Respondent's dispensary."
Furthermore, according to the order, Cookies violated several advertising laws. The suspension order reads:
"Further, Respondent [Cookies] currently has advertisements circulating on social media, including LinkedIn and Instagram, that are in violation of the Act's provisions, specifically Alc. Bev. & Cann. § 36-903, in at least the following ways:
a. It contains the likeness of two celebrities;
b. It contains cartoons depicting two human likenesses and several local mascots;
c. It targets or is attractive to minors, including a cartoon character, a mascot, or any other depiction that is commonly used to market products to minors;
d. It uses at least three publicly known non-cannabis trademarks; and
e. It displays the use of cannabis by three individuals in the ad.”
MCA conducted another investigation of the Cookies Baltimore location on May 30 and requested "numerous items" from Cookies, including "surveillance footage from outside its dispensary on May 27, 2023, as well as inside its patient area," which Cookies never provided, according to the order.
"Respondent's failure to keep a secure door between its service and operational areas also creates a risk of operational failure risking diversion because the purpose of the door is to help monitor and limit the number of cannabis agents with access to all parts of Respondent's operation," the suspension order reads.
On May 31, MCA investigators informed Cookies it would need to close "until in compliance with the Act and again requested a list of documents from Respondent."
Cookies has 30 days to appeal the ruling.
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