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*sb0054*
SENATE BILL 54
M4, A3 6lr0905
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 452
By: Senator Lam
Requested: September 19, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners – Grounds for Disciplinary Action 2
– Restrictions 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from 4
suspending or revoking a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State, 5
reprimanding or censuring a licensee, or placing a licensee on probation solely on the 6
basis of the licensee discussing or recommending the use of cannabis or a product 7
that contains cannabidiol on an animal for certain purposes; and generally relating 8
to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and grounds for disciplinary 9
action. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Agriculture 12
Section 2–301(a), (b), (d), (h), and (i) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Agriculture 17
Section 2–310 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
2 SENATE BILL 54
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 1
Section 1–101(a) and (d) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
Article – Agriculture 7
2–301. 8
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 9
(b) “Board” means the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. 10
(d) “License” means a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State. 11
(h) “Veterinarian” means any person who is a graduate of a college of veterinary 12
medicine. 13
(i) “Veterinary practitioner” means a licensed and registered veterinarian 14
engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine. 15
2–310. 16
(A) [The] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , THE Board may 17
refuse, suspend, or revoke any application or license, and censure or place on probation any 18
licensee after a hearing, if the veterinarian or veterinary practitioner: 19
(1) Is unable to practice veterinary medicine competently due to a physical 20
or mental disability; 21
(2) Is convicted of a violation of any federal or State law relating to 22
prescription drugs, a controlled dangerous substance under Title 5, Subtitle 4 of the 23
Criminal Law Article, or a controlled substance as defined by 21 U.S.C. § 812; 24
(3) Is convicted of a felony, or of a crime involving moral turpitude; 25
(4) Is convicted of violating any provision of this subtitle, any unlawful or 26
fraudulent practice, or any fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive representation or 27
advertising concerning his professional qualifications or the quality of mat erials or drugs 28
used by him in his professional work or in the treatment of animals; 29
(5) Has a final judgment entered against him in a civil malpractice case 30
involving gross personal negligence; 31
SENATE BILL 54 3
(6) Obtains the license by fraud or misrepresentation, either in the 1
application, or in passing the examination; 2
(7) Is guilty of employing or permitting to practice veterinary medicine any 3
person who does not hold a license to practice veterinary medicine in the State; 4
(8) Fails to comply with Board rules or regulations after receiving a license; 5
(9) Is grossly negligent or deliberately cruel to an animal; 6
(10) Is determined by four members to be professionally incompetent as a 7
veterinary practitioner; 8
(11) Is disciplined by a licensing authorit y of another state, including the 9
suspension or revocation of a license to practice veterinary medicine, for an act that would 10
be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; 11
(12) Fails to comply with animal cruelty or animal fighting reporting 12
requirements under § 2–313.1 of this subtitle; or 13
(13) Willfully violates the cat declawing prohibition under § 2 –313.3 of this 14
subtitle. 15
(B) THE BOARD MAY NOT SUSPEND OR REVOKE A LICENSE, REPRIMAND OR 16
CENSURE A LICENSEE, OR PLACE A LICENSEE ON PROBATION SOLELY ON THE BASIS 17
OF THE LICENSEE D ISCUSSING OR RECOMME NDING THE USE OF CANNABIS , AS 18
DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE, OR 19
A PRODUCT THAT CONTA INS CANNABIDIOL ON A N ANIMAL FOR POTENTIAL 20
THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OR HEALTH SUPPLEMENTATION PURPOSES. 21
Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 22
1–101. 23
(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated. 24
(d) (1) “Cannabis” means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the 25
plant, including all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of 26
isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta –9–tetrahydrocannabinol concentration 27
greater than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. 28
(2) “Cannabis” includes cannabis products, seeds, seedli ngs, immature 29
plants, and clones. 30
(3) “Cannabis” does not include hemp or hemp products, as defined in § 31
14–101 of the Agriculture Article. 32
4 SENATE BILL 54
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.