Maryland Supreme Court Refuses to Review Injunction on Anti-Intoxicating Hemp Law

LOS ANGELES- The Maryland Supreme Court has recently opted not to review a lower court’s injunction against the enforcement of the state’s law aimed at banning intoxicating hemp products. This decision, as detailed in a report by the Daily Record, effectively upholds the current injunction, allowing the continued sale of delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products in the state.

The backdrop of this legal situation involves a lawsuit filed in July by the Maryland Hemp Coalition, alongside several hemp farmers and businesses. This collective legal action was a response to the state’s initiative to ban intoxicating hemp products. In October, Washington County Circuit Court Judge Brett R. Wilson issued the injunction, designed to keep these businesses operational as the case progressed through the legal system. Judge Wilson, in his ruling, highlighted that the case centered not on standardizing health and safety regulations but on the rights of individuals to partake in lawful business activities.

Maryland officials, however, have raised concerns regarding the public health implications of unregulated sales of intoxicating cannabinoid products. This stance underscores the ongoing tension between business interests and public health considerations in the evolving landscape of cannabis regulation.

In light of the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision, the state’s Attorney General’s office is currently assessing the situation and deliberating on potential future steps. The case is now set to advance to the Maryland Appellate Court, marking the next chapter in this ongoing legal saga.

This development has significant implications for the cannabis industry in Maryland, as it keeps the door open for the sale of certain hemp products, while also highlighting the complex legal and regulatory challenges faced in balancing business interests with public health concerns.