Maryland officials have released draft regulations for the state’s adult-use marijuana market that’s set to come online in July in accordance with a legalization ballot referendum that voters approved last year.

Weeks after Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed cannabis sales legislation into law, the Marijuana Cannabis Administration (MCA) submitted a first batch of rules for the industry on Friday to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR).

That panel will need to review and approve the emergency regulations, which will also be published in the Maryland Register before they’re enacted.

But the relatively quick turnaround with the proposed regulations is another sign that Maryland intends to have a recreational market up and running in time for the implementation of voter-approved legalization on July 1.

The 41-page draft rule sets definitions, codifies personal possession limits, lays out responsibilities for regulators, explains licensing protocol—including for social equity applicants, clarifies enforcement authorities and penalties and outlines packaging and labeling requirements.

There’s significant focus on converting current medical marijuana businesses to dual licenses to start serving adult consumers, which they would be effectively forced to do in order to continue operating. The rules also cover the processes and fees for different

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A major marijuana lobbying firm has apologized after sending a letter to Senate committee leadership concerning a bipartisan cannabis banking bill that contained “inappropriate” references to investments from China in a “misguided attempt” to push for amendments expanding the legislation.

The original letter that was sent to Senate Banking Committee leaders last week took some by surprise—in part because it advocated for a significant revision to free up all financial services to the cannabis industry, including representation on major U.S. stock exchanges. But controversy also swelled around its argument that the expanded reform is necessary in order to compete against an illicit market funded by “Chinese-backed investors.”

The language was read by some as racially inflammatory, playing into xenophobic concerns over China and Chinese people in a way that risked alienating Asian advocates in the community.

Now The Liaison Group (TLG), which led the letter on behalf of SAFE Banking for Equity, is walking it back and apologizing to the various organizations that were listed as signatories but which did not receive an opportunity to review the draft before it was sent.

“The Liaison Group acknowledges that language referencing ‘Chinese-backed investments’ was a misguided attempt and poor judgment,” the statement

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