# Maryland SB 0594: Cannabis - Advertising - Alterations

Maryland SB 0594, Cannabis - Advertising - Alterations, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Pamela Beidle (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 416) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0594-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0594
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Cannabis - Advertising - Alterations
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 416
- Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Cannabis, Advertising, Age of Majority, Applicants and Applications, Awareness and Outreach, Cannabis Administration, Maryland, Cannabis Distribution, Cannabis -see also- CannDist; CannProd; Smok&Vap, Civil Rights and Social Equity, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Copyright, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Demographics -see also- Census; Data, Electronic Communication, Ethics, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Medical Treatments, Minors -see also- Age of Majority; Youth, Mobile Devices, News Media, Publications -see also- Maryland Register; Textbooks, Radio, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Signs and Billboards, Social Media, Special Events, Television -see also- Cable Television
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (155 yes, 60 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Easier social equity ownership rules: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, a social equity cannabis applicant must have at least 55% ownership and control by one or more qualifying people. A qualifying person either lived in a disproportionately impacted area for 5 of the last 10 years, attended a public school there for 5 years, or attended a Mary…
- Stricter cannabis ad rules and age checks: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, cannabis ads may not target people under 21. Ads on TV, radio, online, social media, print, or events may run only where at least 85% of the audience is 21 or older. Cannabis websites must use a neutral age gate before visitors see content or give contact details. Social med…
- Small exterior signs allowed at dispensaries: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, standard dispensaries may place limited exterior signs to identify the business. Signs may show contact info, Maryland Cannabis Administration info, adverse event contacts, or an approved ownership or license designation. Each sign can be up to 900 square inches, with a tota…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed with Amendments | pass | 87 | 41 | 12 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 38 | 8 | 1 |
| 2026-03-20 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 30 | 11 | 2 |

## Actions (24)

- 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 416
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (38-8) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed with Amendments (87-41) (House)
- 2026-04-13: Floor Amendment {793429/1 (Delegate Valderrama) Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-13: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable with Amendments {713523/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-13: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 2:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-03-21: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-21: Referred Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-03-20: Third Reading Passed (30-11) (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Favorable with Amendments Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Motion Special Order until 3/18 (Senator Folden) Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Committee Amendment Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Favorable with Amendments {883426/1 (Senate)
- 2026-03-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: First Reading Finance (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_416_sb0594e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0594e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-19: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0594t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-05: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0594f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_416_sb0594e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0594e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0594t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0594f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0594-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).