House Bill 837 Aims to Legalize Pot Possession, Home Grow in Maryland

The activists behind the ballot referendum to legalize cannabis in Maryland launched a new advertising campaign last week urging voters to support the proposal when they go to the polls on November 8. Legalize recreational marijuana for adults.

In April, the Maryland legislature passed two bills to legalize recreational marijuana. Under the proposal, Maryland voters will decide whether to legalize cannabis for adults in this fall’s general election, and lawmakers will have to pass additional legislation to regulate the commercial cannabis industry.

Rep. Luke Clippinger, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the bill’s sponsor, said, “We are at the beginning of an important process that will begin to re-examine how we treat the substance of cannabis.” said. told his colleague in the House when they passed the bill earlier this year.

Bills approved by lawmakers include House Bill 837. This is a bill that would legalize the possession of up to 1 1/2 ounces of marijuana by adults, creating a level path to cannabis legalization. The bill also allows adults to grow up to two cannabis plants at home.

Maryland Voters will decide question 4 in November

House Bill 837 will take effect if voters approve House Bill 1, a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis, which will appear as Question 4 on the November general election ballot. The referendum is heavily supported by his Trulieve, a cannabis grower and retailer with operations in eight states, including his three medical marijuana dispensaries in Maryland.

On Thursday, the campaign to pass question 4 will be website When video Encourage voters to support cannabis legalization in Maryland. Eugene Monroe, a former offensive lineman for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and chairman of the committee that sponsors the referendum campaign, said the ballot measure would create economic opportunities for both entrepreneurs and workers. rice field.

“While legalizing cannabis will stimulate Maryland’s economy and create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, Maryland residents will have access to education, public health, and education funded by the cannabis tax. Benefit from a significant investment in public safety.” Monroe said in a statement quoted by washington post.

Supporters of cannabis policy reform in the Maryland legislature say legalizing marijuana would help the state address the harm caused by prohibition and the war on drugs. Investigation A study by the American Civil Liberties Union showed that from 2010 to 2018, blacks in Maryland were more than twice as likely as whites to be arrested for marijuana-related crimes,2 There is evidence that two groups use cannabis at about the same rate.

“By passing Question 4, we will end the failed criminalization of cannabis, create a stock-based, regulated and legal marijuana market, and open new doors for local entrepreneurs and small business owners. It will open,” Monroe said in a statement.

Prince George County representative Jazz Lewis, who reluctantly endorsed legislation passed earlier this year, said the legal cannabis industry should be open to all.

“We need to build whole new industries that people can enter where they are most suitable, and have support systems in place so they can thrive.” Lewis said.

Maryland legalized medical marijuana in 2014, leading to the launch of the medical cannabis industry three years later. But he didn’t have a single Black-owned company among the companies approved to operate in the industry. Rep. Gabriel Acevero, who represents parts of Montgomery County, said the recreational cannabis industry should not follow the same path.

“Unfortunately, the Maryland legislature made the wrong decision regarding medical cannabis,” Acevero said. “It did not prioritize equity and did not ensure that the most affected communities were able to participate in an industry that currently produces millions of people.”

“It’s not a priority to mitigate the effects of the racist war on drugs, recognizing it’s very popular with Marylanders and politically favorable to some. We are just tackling this issue because there are people,” Acevero added. “But we have to get this right.”

Rep. David Moon, representing another section of Montgomery County, chairs the Cannabis Legalization Workgroup’s Criminal Justice Impact Subcommittee. He said the group will wait until a referendum is passed and the stock survey is completed early next year before drafting a regulatory system, adding that it will take years before the recreational marijuana business opens up to customers. He pointed out that it could take

“That’s why we’re doing this two-step process,” Moon said. “This whole conversation about licensing needs some more conversation and analysis. I think it’s just because of history. [of the medical marijuana inequities.] Workgroup meetings held so far have been for basic conversations about licensing and health implications. So I think it’s a preview of what will happen in Congress next year. ”

With 50 days to go before the election, Question 4 has strong public support. In a poll of 748 voters announced Monday morning, 59% said they would vote yes of a referendum.