Maryland voters to decide whether to legalize marijuana

BETHESDA, Md. (FOX 5 DC) – In November, Maryland voters will resolve whether or not to legalize leisure marijuana. 

If it is authorized, Maryland will observe within the footsteps of D.C. and Virginia, and lawmakers might look into taxing and regulating leisure marijuana within the state. 

Maryland is a bit late to the sport on this. D.C. handed comparable laws again in 2014. Virginia authorized legalizing leisure marijuana in 2021. 

Marijuana Justice Govt Director Chelsea Higgs Smart tells FOX 5 the push to legalize the herb must be handled beneath the context of racial fairness. 

“Black residents in Maryland are nonetheless two instances extra prone to be arrested for marijuana than their white counterparts,” Higgs Smart mentioned. “Maryland medical business of marijuana continues to wrestle with Black and Latino participation. We have now seen that the final 12 months’s polls point out that the help has possibly even been diminishing about residents desirous to have this regulated of their state. And this very nicely could also be as a result of the ‘little man,’ in addition to these racial justice parts, should not but assured…” 

Invoice launched to assist implement legalization of marijuana in Maryland

In accordance with a examine by the ACLU, between 2010 and 2018 Maryland was dwelling to a few of the highest 10 counties with the very best charges of marijuana possession arrests within the nation. 

If the poll referendum passes, those that have been arrested for possessing the drug might have their document expunged. 

The companion invoice would legalize possession of as much as 1.5 ounces. It additionally would take away legal penalties of as much as 2.5 ounces and create a civil quotation. Present legal guidelines on marijuana possession would apply to possession of greater than 2.5 ounces.

Maryland additionally plans to review the affect of marijuana on public well being and disparities.