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Ch. Ill 2006 LAWS OF MARYLAND
WHEREAS, The General Assembly has declared, as a matter of State policy,
that former tobacco farms be converted to vineyards to provide a new value-added
agricultural product; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly has a history of promoting value-added
agricultural products as a method of preserving agricultural land in Maryland; and
WHEREAS, The Governor's Advisory Commission on Wine Making and Grape
Growing stated that every $3 invested in Maryland wineries results in $1 earned in
tourist trade to those wineries; and
WHEREAS, Small wineries cannot economically use the services of a wholesaler
to distribute their wine product to restaurants and retail outlets throughout the
State; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide both in-State and
out-of-State small wineries with market opportunities and equal access to Maryland
retailers; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly to maintain its general
reliance on the three-tier system to uniformly resulate the sale and distribution of
alcoholic beverages; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly, based on its deliberations, finds that all
wineries in the State and out of the State that produce less than 27,500 gallons
annually require special recognition within the three-tier system in order to grow and
maintain financial viability; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section(s) 5-301(c), (d), and (e), respectively, of Article - Tax -
General of the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 5-301(d),
(e), and (f), respectively.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland
read as follows:
Article 2B - Alcoholic Beverages
1-102.
(a) (1) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated.
(27) (I) "Wholesaler" means:
1. [a] A person who purchases or imports any alcoholic
beverage for sale to wholesale or retail dealers only[, and includes a county liquor
control board and a county wholesale dispensary]; OR
2. A LIMITED WINERY THAT SELLS WINE TO RETAIL
DEALERS.
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