Starting July 1, 2025, Maryland will implement several new laws affecting cannabis regulation, environmental policy, employment, and education. Cannabis sales will be restricted to products containing no more than 0.5 mg THC per serving or 2.5 mg per package, with penalties for unlicensed distribution. Environmental legislation includes the Transportation and Climate Alignment Act requiring greenhouse gas assessments for highway projects, and the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, which introduces programs to improve the bay’s health, support conservation farming, monitor water quality, and modernize aquaculture. Additionally, the Renewable Energy Certainty Act promotes forestry education and workforce development, while another law exempts certain chemical warfare material incinerations from state regulations.

In employment and labor, Maryland will establish the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy to enhance hiring and retention of people with disabilities in state government, and launch a pilot program connecting unemployed child support debtors with jobs. Other laws mandate reporting on substance use disorder treatment oversight amid Baltimore’s opioid crisis and require counties to create teacher retention programs featuring mentorship and cohort opportunities. These legislative changes collectively aim to address public health, environmental sustainability, workforce inclusion, and education quality across the state.