Maryland Tightens Cannabis Agent Registration and Criminal History Requirements in 2026 Guidance
The Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) this week issued updated guidance clarifying the agent registration and criminal history check requirements that all cannabis licensees, registrants, and applicants must follow under state law, a move aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance and public confidence in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry.
Released January 21, 2026, the guidance provides detailed instructions on the process by which businesses must register cannabis agents — individuals who will work for or volunteer with licensed cannabis operators as well as the procedures for conducting state and federal criminal history background checks as required under Maryland law.
Under Maryland’s regulatory framework, individuals cannot work for a cannabis licensee or registrant without being officially registered as a cannabis agent with the MCA. Registration must be initiated by the business that will employ or host the agent not by the individual themselves — and is conducted through OneStop, Maryland’s centralized digital platform for licensing and registration.
The guidance lays out step-by-step instructions for businesses to register with OneStop, claim their entity profile, and submit new agent applications. It also explains the fingerprinting process, which requires submission of fingerprints to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) so that state and national criminal history record information can be obtained and forwarded to the MCA. This background check process is a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to ensure that those working in the cannabis industry meet legal standards for employment.
For Maryland residents, fingerprints may be submitted at one of six state locations, while out-of-state applicants must request and submit fingerprint cards through CJIS directly. Once results are transmitted, MCA reviews the criminal history record information as part of the agent registration process.
