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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Authorizes Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission to Seize Unauthorized Consumable Products and Penalize Retailers
Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 355Sponsor: Antonio Hayes
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What This Bill Does
Senate Bill 820 prohibits retailers from selling, distributing, or advertising unauthorized s like certain kratom, tianeptine, and phenibut items. Effective July 1, 2026, the law grants the Executive Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission authority to seize and destroy these products and subjects violating retailers to criminal fines and civil liability.
Local businesses and retailers face new misdemeanor charges, fines up to $5,000, and potential license suspensions if they stock or market banned or improperly labeled consumable hemp and synthetic products.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Retailers
Retailers face new sales bans, seizure risks, misdemeanor penalties, fines up to $5,000, and potential license revocations for handling unauthorized consumable products.
Consumers
Consumers gain increased protection from adulterated or unapproved synthetic and herbal consumable products and the right to seek civil damages.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products are considered unauthorized consumable products under this law?
What penalties do retailers face for selling banned items?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
19 actions- May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 355
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorPassed Enrolled
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (44-0)
- Apr 13, 2026SenateFloorSenate Concurs House Amendments
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (134-2)
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
Show 13 earlier actions
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFavorable with Amendments { 103929/1 Adopted
- Apr 9, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Health
- Mar 24, 2026HouseHearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m. (Health)
- Mar 20, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Health Judiciary
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (45-0)
- Mar 17, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Mar 17, 2026SenateFloor Amendment { 603722/1 (Senator Hayes) Adopted
- Mar 17, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 183025/1 Adopted
- Mar 16, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Finance
- Feb 24, 2026SenateHearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 24, 2026SenateHearing canceled
- Feb 11, 2026SenateHearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Finance
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Commission Seizure Authority
The law extends the regulatory reach of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission from traditional substances into emerging herbal and synthetic consumables.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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