Maryland Cannabis Administration regulators imposed a $100,000 civil fine on MESHOW, LLC, operating as RISE Joppa, after inspections from October 2024 to November 2025 exposed persistent failures in inventory tracking, sales limits, and high-potency product controls. The February 2, 2026, Consent Order resolves these issues without a hearing but mandates strict compliance measures to prevent recurrence. This action underscores regulators' commitment to enforcing rules in Maryland's cannabis market, launched for adult use in 2023 following voter approval in 2022.
Oversales and High-Potency Product Breaches
Inspectors documented multiple cases where RISE Joppa exceeded Maryland's adult-use limits, including sales surpassing 12 grams of concentrated cannabis products in a single day and repeated oversales of concentrates and infused edibles. Regulators also found sales of high-potency edibles—those exceeding 10 milligrams of THC per serving or 100 milligrams per package—to adult-use customers, products reserved exclusively for medical patients and caregivers. Additional lapses involved dispensing to medical patients whose provider certifications had expired, despite valid identification cards. These violations persisted through follow-up checks in April, August, and November 2025, even after an approved corrective plan.
Inventory Manipulation and Tracking Failures
A core issue emerged during the October 2024 inspection: discrepancies between the dispensary's METRC seed-to-sale system records and physical stock. Instead of reporting these as required, the then-general manager instructed staff to process "fake purchases" to balance inventory lots, confirmed by video showing transactions without product or payment. No theft or diversion occurred, but the practice bypassed mandatory protocols. Both the general manager and an implicated assistant manager were terminated before the inspection, though the dispensary delayed notifying regulators as mandated. Green waste adjustments lacked required explanations, and overall recordkeeping deviated from approved procedures, eroding trust in the tracking system essential for preventing diversion in Maryland's regulated market.
Corrective Measures and Broader Implications
The dispensary blamed some errors on point-of-sale software glitches with METRC integration, prompting fixes like allocation checks, high-potency warnings, and redundancies. The Consent Order demands METRC training for all agents within 45 days, monthly third-party audits for 18 months, compliance software within 30 days, full inventory reconciliation, and revised procedures for approval. Repeat violations within 18 months risk probation or suspension. Maryland's strict rules protect public safety by curbing overconsumption risks from high-potency items and ensuring accurate tracking amid a market balancing medical access with adult-use growth. Such enforcement signals regulators' vigilance, fostering accountability as the industry matures.
