Maryland is known for its popular tourist destinations, like stops along the Chesapeake Bay and the locations on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Maryland is also famous for its savory seafood, more specifically the state’s sweet blue crabs. 

Whether you are a resident or visitor of the state, there are some strange laws you may have never heard of before. 

Every state has its own head-scratching laws. Some of Maryland’s can be found below. 

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1. Avoid “stench bombs”
2. Be cautious of growing thistles in your yard
3. “Star-Spangled” stipulations
4. Don’t dye chicks

1. Avoid “stench bombs”

You’re unlikely to find any “stench bombs,” also known as stink bombs, in Maryland.

A stench bomb is a device that lets out a smelly odor once it’s activated. 

It’s against the law in Maryland to trade, manufacture or sell the stench-inducing mechanism. 

In Maryland law, a stench bomb is defined as “any liquid, gaseous, or solid substance or matter of any kind which is intended to be thrown, dropped, poured, deposited, or discharged for the purpose of producing a noxious, nauseating, sickening, irritating, or offensive odor.”

There is a law in Maryland that prevents the use of “stench bombs,” also commonly referred to as stink bombs. (iStock)

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The fines for breaking this law range, according to Article 19 § 59-30. Those who break the law are “subject to a fine of not less than $5 and not more than $500 at the discretion of the court.”

2. Be cautious of growing thistles in your yard

Growing thistles? You may want to think twice before doing so in Maryland. 

Numerous kinds of thistles are considered to be “noxious weeds.” Noxious plants are illegal to grow in most states.  

Maryland Agriculture Code Section 9–401 lists the plants and weeds that are determined to be noxious. 

Among them are “thistles belonging to the asteraceae or compositae family, including Canada, musk, nodding, plumeless, and bull thistle” and “Johnsongrass (sorghum halepense) or hybrids that contain Johnsongrass as a parent.” 

Many kinds of thistles are considered to be “noxious weeds” in Maryland law. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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“Shatter cane and wild cane (sorghum bicolor)” are also on this list. 

3. “Star-Spangled” stipulations

Maryland is the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” having been written by Francis Scott Key in Baltimore. 

There are numerous states that have laws that regard how “The Star-Spangled Banner” is performed.

“‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ shall not be played, sung or rendered in the City of Baltimore in any public place, or at any public entertainment, or in any theatre or moving picture hall, restaurant, or cafe, except as an entire and separate,” Article 19 § 49-1 states.

“Nor shall “The Star-Spangled Banner” or any part thereof or selection from the same be played as a part or selection of a medley of any kind,” Maryland law states.

Maryland is one U.S. state that has stipulations in the law regarding the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” (iStock)

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“Use for dancing or exit march prohibited,” the law states, which also requires those playing the national anthem to stand. 

Those who break this law could be fined up to $100.

Massachusetts is another example of a state that has a law surrounding singing and playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

4. Don’t dye chicks

In Maryland, it’s best to let chicks be, as changing their color by dying them can land you in trouble. 

It’s against the law to “sell, offer for sale, barter, or give away a chick as a pet, toy, premium, or novelty; or color, dye, stain, or otherwise change the natural color of a chick,” according to Maryland Criminal Law Code § 10-614. 

The fine for changing the color of a chick is an amount up to $25.

BALTIMORE — As Thanksgiving comes to a close, the holiday shopping season officially begins.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported the period from Black Friday and Cyber Monday could break records, as they predict more than 183 million people will be shopping.

Even with the dominance of online shopping, in-person shopping remains a big preference for some shoppers.

WJZ talked to several Baltimoreans about whether or not they’ll be shopping on Black Friday and for every person who said they wouldn’t, someone said they would.

“It’s a little hectic,” said Regina Webb. “[Also] my kids don’t really like shopping.”

Jamall Watts said he couldn’t wait, and he is planning to get his son an iPhone and buy some furniture for his house.

In its annual survey, the NRF predicts nearly 132 million people are going to shop on Black Friday. Two-thirds of those shoppers are expected to head to the store.

For anyone heading out, AAA reminds shoppers to put whatever they buy in the trunk and out of sight.

“You don’t want to leave them visible,” said Ragina Ali with AAA Mid-Atlantic. “This is true, not just for Black Friday and holiday shopping, but all of the time. Make sure your packages are securely in the trunk of your vehicle, so as not to entice potential thieves.”

More than 72 million people are expected to shop on Cyber Monday, according to NRF estimates.

AAA warns scammers will be working around the clock this holiday season. To lessen the chance of becoming a victim, AAA recommends buying from major retailers or verified vendors.

Also, use a credit card if you have one. Ali said credit cards often have more protections against fraudulent charges and identity theft than debit cards.

The following area malls will be open on Black Friday. It should be noted that some stores in these malls could be open earlier than the mall itself.

• Towson Town Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• White March Mall will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Eastpoint Mall will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• The Mall in Columbia will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Arundel Mills will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Annapolis Mall will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Marley Station Mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The following retailers will be open on Black Friday:

• Target will open at 6 a.m.
• Walmart will open at 6 a.m.
• Kohl’s will open at 5 a.m.
• Macy’s will open at 6 a.m.
• JCPenney will open at 5 a.m.
• Best Buy will open at 6 a.m. 

A newly formed psychedelics task force in Maryland held its initial meetings this month, beginning work on what will eventually become a report to lawmakers on how to reform the state’s laws on substances such as psilocybin, DMT and mescaline.

The Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances was formed following Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) signing of a pair of bills into law in May of this year. The 17-person body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), is charged with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state.

The group will specifically consider policies around psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and non-peyote-derived mescaline, though the legislation that created the body also gives members discretion to put more psychedelics under review as they see fit.

Members of the task force are expected to examine and make recommendations on issues such as “permitting requirements, including requirements regarding education and safety,” “access to treatment and regulated support” and “production of natural psychedelic substances.”

At the group’s first meeting, chair Andrew Coop, a professor and associate dean at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, told members their work is “critically important for the state and for citizens of the state.”

“Maryland is indeed a leader in this area,” he said, “and we need to make sure that we continue as a leader in this area and we do it correctly to ensure that every single person in Maryland benefits from this outcome that we get.”

Much of the conversation during the first two meetings consisted of introductions and initial planning. At the first, on November 7, members introduced themselves voted to authorize Coop to move forward with outreach to MCA about hosting a series of public listening sessions.

“The timeline for our report is this summer,” Coop told members, “so we do have a tight timeline to get this work together.”

At the second meeting, Coop laid out a plan to split members into four committees—(1) decriminalization and social justice, (2) education and public health, (3) compounds and substances and (4) intergovernmental research—calling them “four broad areas that were intended to start the conversation.”

The chair added that he plans to send out a survey for members to provide feedback and indicate which of the committees they’d like to serve on. “We do need feedback from all of you on these activities,” he said.

In the meantime, Coop said he’s been working with MCA officials to nail down the group’s timeline.

One member of the task force, psychotherapist David Selleh, proposed modifications to the four planned committees, suggesting they instead be: (1) substances, (2) models of access, (3) public education and legislature support and (4) regulations and governance. He presented a graphic depicting the issues and deliverables that each of those committees would take on.

Coop replied that intends to stick with his original committee structure idea when sending out the survey, but he emphasized that he was open to input on possible changes.

The group’s next meeting is expected to be December 5. Its recommendations will be due to the governor and legislature by July 31, 2025, though authorization for the task force doesn’t expire until the end of 2026.

For his part, Coop said he’s most passionate about ensuring education and “accessibility for all to these medications.”

“It needs to be responsible use,” he said, “and you can only have responsible use if you have educated use.”

Among the appointees is Nishant Shah, a county health director and substance use disorder consultant for state, is the designated representative on the panel for the Maryland Department of Health.

“I imagine my role more to be what do we as a state agency need to prepare for, think about, elevate in terms of issues to advise the legislature and the governor’s office on specific topics,” Shah said during his introduction, such as regulatory oversight, licensing, risks, safety and equity of access.”

Shah said he’s excited to “listen and learn and then share that with the department so that you guys have a partner in the Maryland Department of Health and Behavioral Health Administration when you guys are making recommendations.”

The law that created the task force includes provisions tasking the body with looking into other psychedelics issues, such as expunging prior convictions and releasing people incarcerated for psychedelics-related offenses, along with a mandate to make recommendations on potential civil penalties for “nonviolent infractions involving the planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, or possessing of or other engagement with natural psychedelic substances.”

Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D), who sponsored the legislation to create the task force and was appointed as a member by the Senate president, said at the body’s first meeting that he expects lawmakers will use the task force’s report to inform new psychedelics legislation, which would be considered in the 2026 legislative session.

“What we’re shooting for is a bill to come in in the 2026 session,” he said, “but even then we have until the end of that year to even come up with some additional recommendations, some additional modifying legislation for…into the next 2027 session.”

In light of that timeline, there was some talk of issuing an interim report to meet next July’s deadline, with a subsequent final report coming later in the year or in 2026.

So far all but one of the task force’s seats have been filled. The only remaining vacancy is a position reserved for a representative of Native American tribes in the state. Other members broadly agreed that filling that position was, as Coop put it, “critical.”

Coop also said he intended to select a program manager to help keep the group on schedule. And he noted the importance of including testimony from people who have experienced legal consequences as the result of psychedelics activity, adding that he was unaware of whether task force members themselves have firsthand experience in the criminal legal system.

Among other topics raised at the initial meetings, member Laura Barrett—a nurse, educator and chair of the University of Miami’s Cannabis Nurse Task Force—noted that many of the group’s other members seemed to focus more on mental, rather than physical health. Another member said she felt input from more voices is essential to avoid over-reliance on anecdotes and invidual expertise.

As originally introduced, the House version of the task force legislation contained more prescriptive requirements to explore and issue recommendations on aspects of psychedelics policy such as “systems to support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic substances with home delivery” and “testing and packaging requirements for products containing natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of potency.” That language was ultimately removed, however.

The task force legislation advanced about two years after a different law took effect creating a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

Separately in Maryland, Moore said in August that as the state works to build upon its marijuana legalization law, he will continue to “advocate for a sane and a standard federal policy,” including banking reform so that small cannabis businesses have access to capital.

The governor added that while he’s committed to ensuring that social equity is integral to Maryland’s cannabis market—citing his recent mass pardon for past marijuana and paraphernalia convictions—it also remains critical that federal reform advances.

Moore has been discussing his vision for cannabis reform frequently over the past few months, as he promotes his recent mass pardon forgiving more than 175,000 marijuana and paraphernalia convictions.

That clemency was about more than addressing the public policy consequences of criminalization,” Moore said in a separate interview. As someone who was exposed to the criminal legal system at an early age, and having been a medical cannabis patient himself, he said there’s an important personal psychological impact of attaining that relief.

In July, Moore and the president of the NAACP also promoted the state’s historic mass marijuana pardon, which they said would unlock the economic potential of people targeted by criminalization. But the governor also stressed the need to get the word out about next steps for the majority of pardon recipients whose records weren’t automatically expunged by his clemency move.

Moore has also gained praise from the White House and other officials such as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) for his cannabis clemency move.

Earlier this summer, state officials reported that since Maryland’s launch of its adult-use cannabis market launched in July of last year, licensed retailers had sold more than $1.1 billion worth of legal marijuana products, including more than $700 million to adult consumers and $400 million in medical marijuana.

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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Workman.