Cannabis incubator won’t open in Catonsville amid community concerns
July 3, 2025
DETAILS FROM CATONSVILLE. THIS IS FAR FROM A DONE DEAL. THIS IS A STATE OWNED BUILDING THAT MIGHT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO REHAB. THE OLD NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING IS SITTING VACANT ON MILLER ROAD IN CATONSVILLE. THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR AN OCCUPANT. ONE POSSIBILITY IS TO USE IT AS A CANNABIS INCUBATOR. THERE’S NO GROWING. THERE’S NO SELLING. IT’S SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT’S SUPPOSED TO THEIR IDEA IS TO USE IT AS A SPACE TO TEACH FOLKS HOW TO DO THIS WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE. BALTIMORE COUNTY COUNCILMAN PAT YOUNG DOESN’T HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE DEAL, BUT HAS HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS WITH CONCERNS ABOUT PUTTING THE FACILITY IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA NEAR A SCHOOL. WE FOUND A VARIETY OF OPINIONS AROUND TOWN THURSDAY. I DON’T WANT ANYTHING AROUND MY CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY THAT WILL CAUSE THEM TO WANT TO SELL AND WANT TO DO DRUGS OUTSIDE OF EDUCATION. I’M FINE WITH THAT. I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. COUNCILMAN YOUNG SAYS HE DOESN’T HAVE MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAN, BUT KNOWS IT’S FAR FROM A DONE DEAL. EVEN IF THE MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ACQUIRES THE PROPERTY, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH, EVEN IF THEY WERE TO ACQUIRE IT. AND START MOVING TOWARDS ACTUAL STEPS TO EXECUTING THEIR PLAN. AND WORKING WITH THAT CANNABIS COMPANY TO PLACE AN INCUBATOR THERE. THERE’S STILL PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS. THERE’S STILL FEASIBILITY STUDIES THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE, WHICH INCLUDES HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO RENOVATE, WHETHER IT’S THE RIGHT AREA TO DO SO. THE STATE CANNABIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY ARE EVALUATING SITES FOR AN INCUBATOR, BUT NO SITE HAS BEEN CHOSEN YET. IN CATONSVILLE, KI
Governor: Maryland seeks new location for cannabis incubator amid community concern in Catonsville
Updated: 4:23 PM EDT Jul 3, 2025
The state will seek a new location for its proposal to open a cannabis incubator project amid community concerns in Catonsville over potentially using an empty armory building there.Archive video above: Some concerned over cannabis incubator plan (November 2024) Gov. Wes Moore’s office released a statement on Wednesday morning, saying the state will now look to find locations that aren’t close to residential communities and schools.In previous 11 News reporting in November, Baltimore County Councilman Pat Young, D-District 1, who doesn’t have an active role in the planning, said he heard from constituents concerned over putting the facility in a residential area near a school.The governor’s statement released Wednesday reads, in part: “Upon further review of this project — and the selection of the Maryland National Guard William J. Witte Armory in Catonsville as the preferred site for the cannabis incubator — I have concluded that the state should explore new options for its location. I have therefore directed the three agencies at the helm of this project — the Maryland Cannabis Administration, Maryland Department of General Services and Maryland Economic Development Corp. — to conduct a new process and explore new locations for the cannabis incubator project.”Instead, the Catonsville Armory will undergo the armory surplus and disposition process that will be managed by the Department of General Services.The governor’s statement indicated the new search starts immediately and will involve community input to quickly move the project forward.Moore said Maryland continues to work on promoting social equity in the cannabis industry and that the project is part of that.”Maryland is proud to be home to the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation,” Moore said in his statement. “We are committed to building a first-in-the-nation cannabis incubator that will support our social equity micro-licensees. Through resource support and programming, the new facility will empower historically disadvantaged individuals and businesses to participate in the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry, which realized more than $1 billion in total sales in its first year.”
The state will seek a new location for its proposal to open a cannabis incubator project amid community concerns in Catonsville over potentially using an empty armory building there.
Archive video above: Some concerned over cannabis incubator plan (November 2024)
Gov. Wes Moore’s office released a statement on Wednesday morning, saying the state will now look to find locations that aren’t close to residential communities and schools.
In previous 11 News reporting in November, Baltimore County Councilman Pat Young, D-District 1, who doesn’t have an active role in the planning, said he heard from constituents concerned over putting the facility in a residential area near a school.
The governor’s statement released Wednesday reads, in part: “Upon further review of this project — and the selection of the Maryland National Guard William J. Witte Armory in Catonsville as the preferred site for the cannabis incubator — I have concluded that the state should explore new options for its location. I have therefore directed the three agencies at the helm of this project — the Maryland Cannabis Administration, Maryland Department of General Services and Maryland Economic Development Corp. — to conduct a new process and explore new locations for the cannabis incubator project.”
Instead, the Catonsville Armory will undergo the armory surplus and disposition process that will be managed by the Department of General Services.
The governor’s statement indicated the new search starts immediately and will involve community input to quickly move the project forward.
Moore said Maryland continues to work on promoting social equity in the cannabis industry and that the project is part of that.
“Maryland is proud to be home to the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation,” Moore said in his statement. “We are committed to building a first-in-the-nation cannabis incubator that will support our social equity micro-licensees. Through resource support and programming, the new facility will empower historically disadvantaged individuals and businesses to participate in the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry, which realized more than $1 billion in total sales in its first year.”
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