HB 925
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
First Reader
House Bill 925 (Delegate Arikan)
Health and Government Operations
Workgroup on Medical Cannabis Use by Pregnant and Nursing Women
This bill establishes the Workgroup on Medical Cannabis Use by Pregnant and Nursing
Women. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) must provide staff for the
workgroup. A member of the workgroup may not receive compensation but is entitled to
reimbursement for expenses under standard State travel regulations. The workgroup must
report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by
December 31, 2021. The bill takes effect June 1, 2021, and terminates June 30, 2022.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: MDH general fund expenditures increase by $33,400 in FY 2022 only for
contractual staff support. Reimbursements for workgroup members are assumed to be
minimal and absorbable within existing budgeted resources. Revenues are not affected.
(in dollars) FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026
Revenues $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
GF Expenditure 33,400 0 0 0 0
Net Effect ($33,400) $0 $0 $0 $0
Note:() = decrease; GF = general funds; FF = federal funds; SF = special funds; - = indeterminate increase; (-) = indeterminate decrease
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: None.
 Analysis
Bill Summary: The workgroup must study:
 how to conduct drug testing to ensure that an individual is not identified as a
cannabis user if the individual uses only over-the-counter cannabidiol (CBD) oil
containing no tetrahydrocannabinol;
 the psychological and bonding effects on mother and baby of unnecessary Child
Protective Services investigations;
 the conditions for which medical cannabis is administered and the conditions for
which a pregnant or nursing woman may use medical cannabis;
 the comparative effects of medical cannabis on a fetus or a nursing child as
compared to other medications used to treat the same medical conditions in a
pregnant or nursing woman; and
 the impact of the cessation of usage of medical cannabis on (1) a pregnant woman
and her fetus and (2) a nursing mother and the nursing child.
The workgroup must make recommendations regarding guidelines for medical cannabis
exposure for pregnant and nursing women.
Current Law: The Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission is responsible for
implementation of the State’s medical cannabis program, which is intended to make
medical cannabis available to qualifying patients in a safe and effective manner. The
program allows for the licensure of growers, processors, and dispensaries and the
registration of their agents, as well as registration of independent testing laboratories and
their agents. There is a framework to certify health care providers (including physicians,
dentists, podiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants),
qualifying patients, and their caregivers to provide qualifying patients with medical
cannabis legally under State law via written certification. Additionally, there are legal
protections for third-party vendors authorized by the commission to test, transport, or
dispose of medical cannabis, medical cannabis products, and medical cannabis waste.
State Expenditures: MDH advises that it would need one half-time and one quarter-time
contractual staff to fulfill the staffing requirements of the bill at a cost of $83,764 in
fiscal 2022 only. The Department of Legislative Services disagrees and advises that
one half-time contractual employee should be sufficient to staff the workgroup.
Thus, general fund expenditures for MDH increase by $33,351 in fiscal 2022 only, which
accounts for a 30-day start-up delay from the bill’s June 1, 2021 effective date. This
estimate reflects the cost of hiring one part-time contractual health policy analyst to staff
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the workgroup and prepare the required report. It includes a salary, fringe benefits, and
one-time start-up costs.
Contractual Position 0.5
Salary and Fringe Benefits $27,933
Operating Expenses 5,418
Total FY 2022 State Expenditures $33,351
This estimate does not include any health insurance costs that could be incurred for
specified contractual employees under the State’s implementation of the federal Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): Maryland Department of Health; Department of Legislative
Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - March 4, 2021
rh/jc
Analysis by: Amber R. Gundlach Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 925/ Page 3