State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners - Grounds for Disciplinary Action - Restrictions
SB 54 prohibits the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from disciplining veterinarians who discuss or recommend cannabis or CBD products for therapeutic or health purposes in animal care. It amends Maryland law (specifically Section 2-310 of the Agriculture Article) to explicitly block license suspensions, revocations, reprimands, or probation solely for this type of professional communication. The bill directly affects licensed veterinarians in Maryland, protecting their ability to discuss these options with pet owners. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not change other disciplinary grounds like malpractice or criminal convictions.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Sep 19, 2025
Signed Apr 14, 2026
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First - State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners - Grounds for Disciplinary Action - Restrictions
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2 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the legislative metadata to reflect its adoption and assigns it to the Agriculture Article instead of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article. It also restores the original definition of 'Cannabis' to include THC concentrations greater than 0.3%, reversing a previous exclusion of hemp products from that definition.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article to the Agriculture Article, and the definition of 'Cannabis' was modified to include hemp products.
SCOPE
The bill was reassigned from the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article to the Agriculture Article.
DEFINITION
The definition of 'Cannabis' was changed to no longer exclude hemp or hemp products as previously defined in the Agriculture Article.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026
How they voted
47–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 49
Mar 3, 2026
D
Democratic36
94% Yea
R
Republican13
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 14, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 48
executive
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
Returned Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
lower
Apr 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Environment and Transportation
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
Referred Environment and Transportation
lower
Mar 20, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (138-0-4)
house of delegates
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Adopted
upper
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-0-2)
senate
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
upper
Sep 19, 2025
Introduced
Pre-filed
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Clarence Lam
DDemocratic
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