Maryland will vote on legal cannabis in November

As the U.S. House of Representatives today voted to move the MORE Act forward, Maryland lawmakers announced a triumph of their own: an amendment legalizing recreational cannabis will appear on the November ballot.

In addition, lawmakers also finalized HB 837, a separate framework law for the program should voters approve legalization in November. This bill requires the signature of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.

HB 837 provides some basic guidelines for the program:

• Adults could purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis.
• Possession of 1.5 ounces to 2.5 ounces would only be fined and not considered a criminal offense.
• Adults could grow two cannabis plants at home.
• The state would automatically delete the records of people convicted of crimes deemed legal under HB 837.
• In addition, individuals previously charged with intent to distribute may apply for erasure after serving three years of their sentence.

Should voters approve the legalization change, it would not go into effect immediately: Beginning January 1, 2023, possession of up to 2.5 ounces would be considered a civil offense. Full legalization would not begin until July 1, 2023.

Legalization advocates in Maryland have reason to be optimistic: A 2021 poll found that residents support legalizing adult use by a two-to-one margin.

A social justice note attached to HB 837 argues that the bill would reduce the racially disproportionate rates of Maryland’s cannabis police force.

Max Savage Levenson

Max Savage Levenson probably has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any author on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled people. He is the co-host of the Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.

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