Maryland CBD, Delta-8 sellers say cannabis bill will kill their industry – Baltimore Sun – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

Sellers of hemp-derived products such as Delta-8 and CBD say a few lines in a recreational cannabis bill making its way through the Maryland legislature will put them out of business.

The bill would establish a regulatory framework for the adult-use cannabis industry, which could launch as early as July. As part of that legislation, lawmakers have set a cap on any products that contain even small amounts of THC — a cap that is significantly smaller than what is currently allowed under federal law.

Anyone who sells a product above that THC cap will need to get a Maryland cannabis license, a competitive and potentially pricey endeavor.

The cap will doom Maryland’s fast-growing CBD and Delta-8 industries, according to Nicholas Patrick, who leads an industry group for hemp-derived products.

“The entire industry from top to bottom would be relegated to the abyss,” Patrick said. “This is a doomsday situation.”

Patrick owns three stores called Embrace CBD and said there are at least 60 similar stores in Maryland that specialize in CBD and Delta-8 products. Most of the products sold at these stores would be considered illegal under this proposed law, Patrick said.

The Delta-8 and CBD…