Maryland Begins Legal Cannabis Sales – Cannabis | weed | marijuana

Maryland has started legal cannabis sales eight months after voters approved a ballot measure. The state gave medical cannabis dispensaries the green light to sell to the state’s new recreational customers.

Further licenses will be issued from 2024.

Maryland defines adults as 21 years and older and restricts them to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. Residents can grow up to two plants for their own use.

“These new laws will drastically reduce police operations on cannabis and provide adults 21 and older with safe, legal access to cannabis products.” We are proud to join our allies, lawmakers and Marylanders across the state in celebrating this victory and over the reflecting on the tireless work we’ve put in to get here,” said Olivia Naugle, senior policy analyst at the Marijuana Policy Project.

Details on legalization in Maryland

On November 8, 2022, 67.2% of Maryland voters approved Question 4, which asked whether cannabis should be legal.

Maryland holds the record for the highest majority of any vote to legalize cannabis in the United States.

With a thumbs-up from voters, lawmakers introduced and passed two bills (HB 556/SB 516). Governor Wes Moore signed the bill into law.

In addition, Maryland’s legislature introduced and passed HB 1071. This bill states that the smell or smell of cannabis is not grounds for a police search. Also, the fine for smoking in public was reduced from $250 to $50.

The first legal cannabis sale in Maryland began on July 1, 2023.

Maryland joins the other 22 states that have legalized cannabis. With legal cannabis sales yet to begin in Virginia, Delaware and Minnesota, Maryland will become the 20th state to legalize cannabis.

Changes to Maryland’s medicinal cannabis

As previously mentioned, legal cannabis sales in Maryland come from former medicinal cannabis dispensaries. While they still serve medical patients, adults over the age of 21 can now purchase flowers, vapes, edibles, tinctures, and other cannabis goods.

Legalization in Maryland changed the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission. The Maryland Cannabis Administration will now regulate the production and sale of cannabis. The acting head of the new agency expects sales to triple next year.

On July 1, the media reported long queues in front of existing medical pharmacies. As one owner told local news, they needed additional staff, products and security.

So far there are 95 cannabis stores in the state.

Meg Nash, a partner at a law firm specializing in cannabis and psychedelics, praised Maryland’s approach to converting licenses from medicinal cannabis dispensaries to recreational cannabis dispensaries.

She told the High Times, “Maryland’s rapid implementation of its adult-use cannabis program is remarkable and will hopefully serve as a model for other states that share the policy goals of increasing access to safe cannabis products and discouraging involvement in the unregulated industry.” .”

Maryland begins legal cannabis sales

(Paul W Gillespie/Capital Gazette)

Legal cannabis sale in Maryland is not just for Maryland residents. Any government issued ID will work. However, transporting cannabis across state lines remains illegal.

There is also a sales tax on legal cannabis sales in Maryland, similar to the state alcohol tax rate.

As previously mentioned, the possession limit for flowers is 1.5 ounces. For concentrates, consumers can buy up to 12 grams.

Unfortunately, the state limits edible cannabis products to 10mg per dose. However, only for recreational users. The state allows 25 mg and 40 mg options for medical patients.

In addition, medical cannabis patients do not have to pay sales tax. You also have access to a wider selection of higher potency cannabis products.

We applaud Maryland’s approach to not putting medical patients in their place (compared to Canada’s disastrous medical cannabis regime). But we’re not sure what the incentive for the serious stoner is to get involved in legal cannabis sales in Maryland.

The underground “black market” may offer higher potency cannabis. Or you can continue to follow the medicinal cannabis route.

A better option would be to remove THC limits altogether, leaving Maryland adults free choice. How else do they justify the designation “Free State”?