Md. Code Regs. 10.62.37.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 7, April 5, 2024

Section 10.62.37.04 - General Premises Requirements

A. The premises and operations shall conform to all local zoning and planning requirements.

B. A permit to process edible cannabis products shall be conspicuously displayed at the premises.

C. No major renovation or modification to the premises may be undertaken unless the Commission:

(1) Has received notice in the form prescribed by the Commission; and

(2) Issues written approval for the renovation or modification.

D. The premises shall be completely separated from an area used as living quarters by solid, impervious floors, walls, and ceilings with no connecting openings.

E. A room or area in which ingredients or edible cannabis products are processed or stored, or in which cookware equipment is cleaned, sanitized, or stored, shall:

(1) Be separated from other rooms or areas at the licensed premises by tight walls, ceilings, and self-closing doors;

(2) Be refrigerated or mechanically ventilated using exhaust and supply fans to:

(a) Remove grease vapors, steam, condensation, heat, and odor;

(b) Provide filtered air and positive air pressure to the room; and

(c) Prevent condensation and grease from accumulating on surfaces and equipment;

(3) Have a floor, ceiling, and walls that are smooth, washable, and impervious to water;

(4) Have floor-wall joints that are coved and impervious to water; and

(5) Prevent overhead pipes, ducts, conduits, evaporators, and other structures required to manufacture edible cannabis products from:

(a) Being located over ingredient or edible cannabis product storage, preparation, manufacturing, packaging, or labeling areas; and

(b) Leaking on or contaminating:

(i) Ingredients;

(ii) Edible cannabis products;

(iii) Cookware; or

(iv) Packaging or labeling materials.

F. Handwashing Sinks.

(1) Each room or area shall have a handwashing sink except for a:

(a) Room or area solely used for receiving, for storage, or as an office; or

(b) Hallway where no processing of ingredients or edible cannabis products or cleaning of cookware or equipment occurs.

(2) The handwashing sink shall:

(a) Be easily accessible to processor agents; and

(b) Provide warm water of sufficient volume under pressure for effective hand washing procedures as outlined in this chapter.

(3) A permittee shall maintain at least one handwashing sink for the following number of agents who are engaged in warewashing or the processing of ingredients or edible cannabis products while on duty at the same time:

(a) Every 15 agents; and

(b) Any fraction of 15 agents.

G. Artificial Lighting.

(1) A room or area in which ingredients or edible cannabis products are processed or stored, or in which cookware or equipment are cleaned, sanitized, or stored, shall have artificial lights that provide at a minimum:

(a) 40-foot candles of light on all work surfaces used for processing and warewashing; and

(b) 20-foot candles of light on surfaces used solely for storage.

(2) The artificial lighting shall consist of:

(a) Shatter-resistant bulbs; or

(b) Light shields that protect exposed light bulbs or fixtures from breakage and prevent glass fragments from contacting ingredients, edible cannabis products, or contact surfaces.

H. Floor Drains.

(1) The permittee shall:

(a) If a floor receives water as a result of processing or cleaning, install and maintain floor drains at a rate of one floor drain for every 400 square feet of floor area; and

(b) Ensure that the floor is sloped to one or more floor drains at a pitch of 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot.

(2) Pooling or standing water is not allowed.

I. Lavatories.

(1) The premises shall be constructed to include:

(a) A separate, gender-segregated lavatory for men and women, or a gender-neutral lavatory; and

(b) One toilet for the following number of agents who are on duty at the same time:

(i) Every 15 agents; and

(ii) Any fraction of 15 agents.

(2) A lavatory may not open directly into an area in which:

(a) Ingredients or edible cannabis products are stored, processed, packaged, or labeled; or

(b) Cookware or equipment is washed or stored.

(3) Each lavatory shall be equipped with:

(a) Ventilation with mechanical air exhaust at the rate of 2 cubic feet per minute of air for each square foot of floor area or a screened window that allows the entrance of outside air;

(b) Easily cleanable and durable walls and ceiling;

(c) A smooth, impervious, and easily cleanable floor;

(d) Artificial lighting that provides 20-foot candles of light when measured 30 inches above the floor;

(e) A handwashing sink;

(f) Soap;

(g) Paper towels or warm air hand drying devices;

(h) Warm water of sufficient volume under pressure for effective hand washing according to the procedures set forth in this chapter; and

(i) A covered trash receptacle.

J. Non-Green Waste.

(1) The premises shall include non-green waste containers that are:

(a) Adequate in number to maintain sanitary conditions;

(b) Accessible to agents at locations where non-green waste is generated;

(c) Labeled as not suitable for any green waste;

(d) Easily cleanable; and

(e) Placed on a hard and impermeable surface.

(2) Non-green waste containers located inside shall be leakproof and emptied and cleaned at least daily.

(3) Non-green waste containers located outdoors shall be:

(a) Impervious to leaks, vermin, and insects;

(b) Equipped with a drain that conveys wastewater from the container directly into a sewerage system that meets all applicable State and local codes and properly disposes of the wastewater;

(c) Large enough to hold waste until the waste is taken offsite; and

(d) Covered.

K. In any event where the permittee is unable to ensure adequate sanitation, such as during an electrical outage or water shut-off, the permittee shall:

(1) Cease all edible cannabis processing;

(2) Conduct a risk analysis to determine whether any ingredients, edible cannabis products, or packaging or labeling materials were contaminated; and

(3) Notify the Commission within 24 hours of the event.

Md. Code Regs. 10.62.37.04

Regulation .04 adopted effective 48:8 Md. R. 309, eff. 4/19/2021