Maryland Prevails Over Bid to Pause Retail Weed License Scheme

Maryland can enforce its marijuana retail license rules that prioritize attendees of in-state colleges after a federal appeals court said the scheme is likely constitutional.

California resident and business entrepreneur Justyna Jensen failed to show the Maryland “social equity” regulations discriminated against non-Maryland residents, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said Tuesday.

A lower court had denied Jensen’s motion to preliminarily block the program from moving forward during her constitutional challenge. The Fourth Circuit affirmed that ruling.

The decision comes as courts grapple with challenges to state rules on who gets prioritized for a marijuana retail license ...