{"id":48901,"date":"2021-07-16T09:15:42","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T17:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2021\/07\/16\/top-maryland-lawmaker-pledges-to-put-marijuana-legalization-on-2022-ballot\/"},"modified":"2021-07-16T13:45:51","modified_gmt":"2021-07-16T21:45:51","slug":"top-maryland-lawmaker-pledges-to-put-marijuana-legalization-on-2022-ballot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2021\/07\/16\/top-maryland-lawmaker-pledges-to-put-marijuana-legalization-on-2022-ballot\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Maryland Lawmaker Pledges To Put Marijuana Legalization On 2022 Ballot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A top Maryland lawmaker on Friday pledged that lawmakers will pass a bill to put the question of marijuana legalization before voters as a referendum on the 2022 ballot. And she\u2019s formed a cannabis working group to assess the best way to structure the reform.<\/p>\n

House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D) said that while she has \u201cpersonal concerns about encouraging marijuana use, particularly among children and young adults, the disparate criminal justice impact leads me to believe that the voters should have a say in the future of legalization.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House will pass legislation early next year to put this question before the voters but we need to start looking at changes needed to State law now,\u201d she said in a press release.<\/p>\n

To that end, Jones has appointed a 10-member working group to study a range of issues related to legalizing and regulating cannabis.<\/p>\n

Legalization legislation did begin to move through the legislature this session, but no votes were ultimately held.<\/p>\n

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing in March on a legalization bill sponsored by top lawmakers<\/a>, including the body\u2019s president, majority leader and key committee chairs. That followed a House Judiciary Committee\u00a0hearing on a separate cannabis proposal<\/a> in February.<\/p>\n

\u201cEighteen states and the District of Columbia have already legalized recreational cannabis for adult-use. Maryland must do the same and a large majority of Marylanders in both political parties support an equitable framework that immediately addresses the injustices in our current criminal justice system,\u201d Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) said in reaction to Jones\u2019s announcement on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2019, I co-chaired the General Assembly\u2019s workgroup to study this issue and we identified the key decision points and models for legalization in Maryland,\u201d he added. \u201cThe Senate continues to be ready to move a fair, just, and equitable program forward, and we intend to do so during the 2022 session.\u201d<\/p>\n

Del. Jazz Lewis (D), who sponsored the legalization bill in his chamber this year, praised the speaker\u2019s move to advance the issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I have said many times, legalization must be grounded in equity and restorative justice,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll continue to fight for just that!\u201d<\/p>\n

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I commend Speaker Jones for putting together a workgroup to review legislation on legalizing cannabis. As I have said many times, legalization must be grounded in equity and restorative justice. I’ll continue to fight for just that!<\/p>\n

\u2014 Delegate Jazz Lewis (@JazzforMaryland) July 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Lawmakers had worked to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate proposals in the hopes of getting something to the desk of Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who has not endorsed legalization but has signaled he may be open to considering the idea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,100 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The effort to end prohibition might not have panned out this session, but now the speaker seems to be setting the stage for a policy change next year.<\/p>\n

The working group she\u2019s convened\u2014which includes House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke (D), Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R), Legislative Black Caucus Chair Darryl Barnes (D) and other top lawmakers\u2014will study a wide range of cannabis policy issues before the referendum bill is formally introduced.<\/p>\n

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I strongly support @SpeakerAJones<\/a>‘s proposal to put a question on the ballot in 2022 to legalize recreational #cannabis<\/a> in Maryland.
And I’m honored to serve on the House work group looking at the details of legalization.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Delegate Eric Luedtke (@EricLuedtke) July 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Luedtke said it remains to be seen what the legalization ballot question will ultimately look like, but \u201cbut many of us will be arguing for broad expungement and for efforts to ameliorate past harms, especially to communities of color.\u201d<\/p>\n

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tbd what the ballot language would look like, but many of us will be arguing for broad expungement and for efforts to ameliorate past harms, especially to communities of color.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Delegate Eric Luedtke (@EricLuedtke) July 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The panel will consider licensing rules, tax structures, social equity and expanded access to substance misuse treatment.<\/p>\n

The press release says that the group will begin to meet this fall.<\/p>\n

As Maryland lawmakers considered the two marijuana legalization bills this past session, a poll found that the state\u2019s residents are on board with the policy change<\/a>. Two-thirds (67 percent) of Marylanders now back legalizing cannabis, according to a Goucher College survey. Just 28 percent are opposed.<\/p>\n

Pressure to enact the reform is also building regionally. Marijuana legalization took effect in Virginia<\/a> at the beginning of this month, for example.<\/p>\n

And while Hogan, a moderate Republican who is up for reelection next year, might not be outwardly enthusiastic about enacting the policy change, the popularity of the issue among voters in the state could push him toward supporting efforts to enact the reform via legislation under regular order to avoid putting it on the ballot as a referendum. Some research has indicated that cannabis measures boost turnout from young voters and other demographics that are more likely to vote for Democrats.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, two of Hogan\u2019s Democratic gubernatorial opponents\u2014former state Attorney General Doug Gansler and former U.S. Secretary of Education John King\u2014have also voiced support for legalization in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

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Legalizing cannabis is only step one. <\/p>\n

We must also ensure that businesses led by folks of color and women are able to fairly participate in licensing and sales.<\/p>\n

\u2014 John King (@JohnBKing) July 13, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cBlack Marylanders are nearly twice as likely as white Marylanders to be arrested for cannabis despite using it at the same rate,\u201d King said. \u201cIt\u2019s time to legalize it and expunge records for non-violent offenders.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Black Marylanders are nearly twice as likely as white Marylanders to be arrested for cannabis despite using it at the same rate. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to legalize it and expunge records for non-violent offenders.<\/p>\n

\u2014 John King (@JohnBKing) July 12, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Gansler reacted to New Mexico\u2019s decision to legalize cannabis and described it as \u201cthe rational, practical, and fiscally responsible thing\u201d to do.<\/p>\n

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Yet another state has done the rational, practical, and fiscally responsible thing and legalized cannabis. Maryland should be next. https:\/\/t.co\/lRWZV3gZzF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Doug Gansler (@DougGansler) June 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cMaryland should be next,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Gansler also called out the consequences of prohibition, saying it can derail people\u2019s lives and damages trust between communities and law enforcement.<\/p>\n

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The consequences of a simple marijuana possession conviction can derail someone’s life, closing the door to jobs and more. That is why we need to legalize cannabis in Maryland and establish a comprehensive system to expunge possession records.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Doug Gansler (@DougGansler) June 18, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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For law enforcement to be their most effective, they must build and maintain the trust of their communities. Cannabis regulation would free up police resources, so they can focus on more serious crimes and help strengthen community relationships, to keep all of our families safe.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Doug Gansler (@DougGansler) June 21, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMaryland is now lagging behind its neighbors in Virginia and D.C. on cannabis policy, and it is long past due that the state move forward with equitable legalization,\u201d Olivia Naugle, a legislative analysis with the Marijuana Policy Project, told Marijuana Moment. \u201cMarylanders strongly support legalization, so it is encouraging to see the speaker commit to referring legalization to voters next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maryland legalized medical marijuana through an act of the legislature in 2012. Two years later, a decriminalization law took effect that replaced criminal penalties for possession of less than 10 grams with a civil fine of $100 to $500. Since then, however, a number of efforts to further marijuana reform have fallen short.<\/p>\n

A bill last year to expand the decriminalization possession threshold to an ounce\u00a0passed the House last year<\/a>\u00a0but was never taken up in the Senate.<\/p>\n

In May, the governor vetoed a bill that would have shielded people with low-level cannabis convictions from having their records publicized<\/a>\u00a0on a state database. In a veto statement, he said it was because lawmakers failed to pass a separate, non-cannabis measure aimed at addressing violent crime.<\/p>\n

In 2017, Hogan declined to respond to a question about whether voters should be able to decide the issue, but by mid-2018 he had signed a bill to expand the state\u2019s medical marijuana system and said full legalization was worth considering: \u201cAt this point, I think it\u2019s worth taking a look at,\u201d he said at the time.<\/p>\n

As for Maryland lawmakers, a House committee in 2019\u00a0held hearings on two bills that would have legalized marijuana<\/a>. While those proposals didn\u2019t pass, they encouraged many hesitant lawmakers to begin seriously considering the change.<\/p>\n

Read the speaker\u2019s full announcement about the marijuana plan below:<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPEAKER JONES ANNOUNCES CANNABIS REFERENDUM AND WORKGROUP<\/p>\n

ANNAPOLIS, MD \u2013 Today, Speaker of the House Adrienne A. Jones announced support for a referendum to legalize cannabis on the 2022 General Election ballot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I have personal concerns about encouraging marijuana use, particularly among children and young adults, the disparate criminal justice impact leads me to believe that the voters should have a say in the future of legalization,\u201d said Speaker Jones. \u201cThe House will pass legislation early next year to put this question before the voters but we need to start looking at changes needed to State law now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaker Jones also announced the creation of a Cannabis Workgroup to craft the implementation of a legalized cannabis program in Maryland, should the voters approve the ballot question in November of 2022.<\/p>\n

House Judiciary Chairman Luke Clippinger will chair the Workgroup.<\/p>\n

\u201cCannabis use has had a disparate impact on people of color for too long with no real impact on public safety,\u201d said Chairman Clippinger. \u201cThis Workgroup will establish the legal frameworks necessarily to fully implement legalization of marijuana and learn from the mistakes that other states have made before us. The Speaker has been clear that we will do this with an eye toward equity and consideration to Black and brown neighborhoods and businesses historically impacted by cannabis use.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Workgroup will:<\/p>\n