After exploding onto the Maryland market just before April 20, 2026, Maryland Herb Co. has consistently pumped out batches of top-tier Cannabis since. Spending years developing their genetic library through good relationships with breeders and their operations in California has been essential to dialing in their Maryland flower lineup. Getting an inside look at the facility during a harvest cycle with Chheang Chhem, director of cultivation systems, gave the Leaf some insight into the way they grow — from seed to sale.
Chhem brings a wealth of knowledge from the California Cannabis industry to the Maryland Herb Co. team. Making sure things run smoothly and to the best of their ability just scratches the surface of his responsibilities at the Maryland grow.
Implementing new lighting systems, like LEDs from FOHSE, in their whole facility is currently underway. These specific lights have been known to drive heavier yields compared to high-pressure sodium lighting. They also make it possible to dial in the lighting to the specific needs of plants in various stages of life. Getting light deep under the canopies into every facet of a Cannabis plant is not easy, but lighting from FOHSE is certainly one of the best ways to do it.
Each of Maryland Herb Co.’s nine flower rooms houses around 375 plants, with the intention of having more control over each plant when compared to larger flower rooms in the state. Letting subpar finished material out the door is out of the question, and maintaining that standard with every batch that goes to the public is something that is rooted in the culture of this company. That sentiment translates into the finished product the Leaf has seen, producing bright buds potent in aroma and cannabinoid content.
Diving into some of the strain selection currently on the market, Guava Lava, Ravens Runtz, Deep Breath and Paloma Spritz are among the Maryland Cannabis market’s favorites from Maryland Herb Co.
Guava Lava is a cross between Sunset Sherbet and Kauai Mints #77, creating a delicious blend of enticingly fruity tropical terpenes. Ravens Runtz is a classic Runtz profile, leaning into the heavy gas aroma while falling back on a candy-like taste that lingers after smoking. Deep Breath combines (Mendo Breath x Gorilla Glue #4) and Alien Breath, which translates to a smell reminiscent of deep red fruits, with a sour funk somewhere in the mix. One of my personal favorites in their lineup is Paloma Spritz: a cross between Spritzer and Grape Gas. Entering the late-stage flower form, notes of grape sodas and candies flooded my nostrils and uplifted my senses. The Grape Gas in the cross brings a certain underlying gassy element to the nose.
Seeing the full harvest cycle from seeds to finished products, Tommy Black, post harvest manager, was another breath of fresh air at this grow facility. The enthusiasm he brings to the team seemed to shine from within, bringing light to the rest of the staff he oversees. Without a certain level of attention to detail from Black and his team, all the hard work of getting the plants to their final stage would be for nothing.
“Getting a solid defoliation during harvest is key for the drying process. Leaving those (leaves) on can negatively affect the smell of the product during the curing process,” Black said. “Ideally, you want the final product to be buds with sugar leaves on the stem.”
It’s only with this level of care that plants are able to truly express themselves and their nuances compared to other genetic lineages.
As a grow in its first full year in production, Maryland Herb Co. has already gained quite a few fans in Maryland. It’s great to see a passionate team come together and generate such incredible results so early on. From everyone in the grow facility to the marketers and field reps making the name so well known, no detail is being skipped in their process.
Thank you to the entire team at Maryland Herb Co. for the transparency and attention to detail expressed by everyone who works for this grow.
