The license for the operation of Cookies Baltimore was put on hold by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) on June 2, just a few days after the medical marijuana store had its inaugural opening in Baltimore.
The Baltimore branch of Cookies welcomed customers for the first time on May 27, in anticipation of the commencement of adult-use sales in the state starting from July 1.
As per the official suspension document, MCA inspection officers conducted a thorough inspection of Cookies’ premises on May 26 and identified multiple breaches of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR).
The document further states that the officers had also asked for essential information from Cookies prior to the opening of its Baltimore branch, which was never provided by the dispensary as of May 27.
In the official document, MCA also reported viewing a video accessible to the public on Cookies’ social media. This video revealed “significant clouds of medical marijuana smoke being emitted from a large device and inhaled by individuals outside the store. This device had a sticker with Cookies’ branding on it. The video also displayed images of this person inside the store run by the Respondent.”
The document further points out that Cookies broke several advertising laws. The suspension order states:
“Additionally, the Respondent [Cookies] has advertisements that are currently being disseminated on social media platforms, including LinkedIn and Instagram, which are found to be in breach of the Act’s stipulations, specifically Alc. Bev. & Cann. § 36-903, in at least the following manners:
a. The advertisements feature images of two celebrities;
b. The advertisements include animated illustrations of two human figures and a few local mascots;
c. The advertisements are seemingly designed to appeal to minors, with a cartoon character, a mascot, or any other image that is typically used to sell products to minors;
d. The advertisements utilize at least three recognizable non-cannabis trademarks; and
e. The advertisements display the consumption of cannabis by three people.”
The MCA carried out a second inspection of the Cookies Baltimore outlet on May 30 and demanded “multiple items” from Cookies, such as “video surveillance from outside its store on May 27, 2023, and also from within its patient area,” which was not provided by Cookies as per the order.
“The Respondent’s negligence in maintaining a secure door between the service and operational areas also poses a risk of operational disruption and potential diversion, as the door’s purpose is to oversee and control the access of cannabis agents to all areas of the Respondent’s operations,” reads the suspension document.
On May 31, MCA officers notified Cookies that it had to cease operations “until it complied with the Act and once again asked for a set of documents from the Respondent.”
Cookies is granted a 30-day window to contest this decision.
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