5-16-2025 4:02am

Inside A Fast-

With the legalization and recreational use of cannabis being a topic in American policy and pop-culture for decades, one local team of enthusiasts has been waiting for its moment to take the lead in this budding industry.

Founded in 2015, CULTA was ready to take action when the “legalize it” movement started to gain momentum. When the first moves to medicalize cannabis and decriminalize the substance in Maryland were made in 2017, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (then known as the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission) was created to lead the regulatory movement. That same year, CULTA was helping to pioneer this new industry by building the first cannabis agricultural grow facility not only in Maryland, but also on the East Coast—with its first historical outdoor harvest later taking place in Cambridge in 2019.

“Cannabis production and distribution is still a relatively new industry when compared to most, especially in Maryland. CULTA has been lucky enough to watch and help it grow from the very start,” said Jon Lassiter, chief revenue officer at CULTA. “There wasn’t too much of a blueprint when it came to building a business, especially when it came to navigating the changing rules and regulations in our state. I’d like to think we help set an example for other operations in Maryland.”

In 2022, House Bill 1 was introduced and passed, and later voted on in the November election, on the basis that the majority of Marylanders (about 70 percent) supported the movement to “legalize it”. A cannabis reform workgroup soon formed, with the goal of creating a regulatory framework for the safe and legal purchase of cannabis products. In July 2023, cannabis was made legal in Maryland for adult-use and consumption, and a new era was ushered in along with it.

CULTA quickly flew into action to obtain its adult-use license status. Directives to regulate every aspect of the growing, packaging, and selling process were soon put into place at the state level, and the business set to work reframing to align with the changing landscape.

“At CULTA we stick to our motto of ‘From Seed to Sale.’ We are hands-on at every step of the process, from seed planting, to growing and harvesting, to packaging. Up to the moment it leaves our store, we are able to regulate, track, monitor and report everything in accordance with state protocol,” said Jon.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration has made strides to put systems in place that make sure the cannabis plant is tracked and inventoried throughout its entire lifecycle, down to the specialized product it eventually becomes upon purchase. This is something that CULTA prides itself on, ensuring each product is up to snuff while working hand-in-hand with state regulatory agencies to guarantee the best quality product.

CULTA’s processing facility on the Eastern Shore has also played a vital role in the revitalization of the area. The company was able to redevelop a previously underutilized industrial site (the former Phillips Seafood plant), contributing to land renewal efforts and creating a significant number of local jobs. The business has quickly become one of the larger private employers in the Cambridge area and actively recruits from the local community—offering career paths in cultivation, processing, and facility operations. The company currently employs more than 200 people in Maryland, with 70 percent of its workforce located on its Cambridge campus.

Along with its agricultural growing facility in Dorchester County, CULTA also owns and operates three dispensaries in Baltimore, Columbia, and Urbana, touting one of the most facilities owned by a brand in Maryland throughout the state’s cannabis industry. The business also distributes its high quality products to dispensaries throughout the state. No matter how far the CULTA love spreads, the organization is appreciative of how welcoming communities across Maryland have been to its product and business.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to be Maryland grown. We’re so appreciative of everyone who has helped us along the way, from our partners at Maryland Cannabis Administration to the City of Cambridge, who first welcomed us into the community to build our business from the ground up. We’re happy to help grow this innovative industry and provide an example to other businesses,” said Jon.