EASTON, Md. - Six months after the launch of Maryland's recreational marijuana industry, the state is preparing to issue a new round of dispensary licenses, a move that will significantly expand the number of cannabis businesses on the shore.
Currently, only five dispensaries serve the Eastern Shore. However, with the issuance of the first round of new licenses, this number is expected to nearly triple.
In Wicomico County, 17 applications were submitted for just two new licenses. Worcester County saw nine applications, with only one new license being issued. Somerset County, which received a single application, will also issue one license. Dorchester County had six applications for one new license, while Talbot County led the shore with 25 applications, yet only two licenses will be granted. Caroline County had two applications with one license to be awarded, and Queen Anne's County had three applications for a single license.
Michael Dunaway, General Manager at Sunburst Pharm in Cambridge, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, noting the public's interest in participating in the cannabis market. "It's something new, right, everyone is just wanting to participate and try in it, and we welcome everyone to have that opportunity," Dunaway said. He also welcomed the increased competition the new licenses would bring.
Cambridge, already a cannabis hub with two growers and one dispensary, is expected to see more growth. Bill Christopher of the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce doesn't believe the addition of more dispensaries will negatively impact the existing ones. "Just like having multiple restaurants in the town, they've got different product, different things they're bringing to market, it actually tends to bring more business, more customers to the arena," he said.
The expansion also raises questions about the impact on communities that have implemented cannabis moratoriums. Easton Town Council President Frank Gunsallas says the town has the option to repeal its six-month moratorium. "It looks like things are moving along nicely with the timeline with the Planning and Zoning Commission and we are expecting to hear something in the next few weeks," Gunsallas said.
This new round of cannabis company licensing has been notably focused on "social equity" applicants. According to the state, more than 80% of applicants self-identified as female or belonging to a minority group, highlighting the state's effort to promote diversity and inclusion in the burgeoning industry.
