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Maryland voted for the legalization of cannabis for recreational adult use

Annapolis, Maryland, USA downtown cityscape on Main Street at twilight.

In a constitutional amendment passed by Maryland voters on Tuesday, marijuana was become legal for recreational use.

Cannabis law reform measures were previously adopted by parliamentarians this year, but the General Assembly left decisions on licensing and taxes until the following year. According to the constitutional change, cannabis distribution, regulation, and taxes will not be lawful until July 2023 for adults 21 and older, subject to the General Assembly passing legislation in its following session. Some supporters claimed that they thought the state would profit from the taxes that cannabis sales would bring in, while others claimed that they thought marijuana was less harmful than alcohol. In a statute passed earlier this year, a transitional period between January 1 and July 1 is specified. For instance, it is a civil infraction to possess the personal use quantity, which is defined as up to 1.5 ounces, beginning January 1 and lasting through June 30. A $100 fee would be the maximum penalty for violators. On July 1, those over 21 will be able to possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana.

With effect from July 1, having a personal use amount in your possession while under the age of 21 is a civil infraction punishable by a $100 fine. Three years following the completion of the sentence or sentences for any convictions for which expungement is sought, including parole, probation, or mandatory supervision, a person convicted of cannabis possession with the intent to distribute may file a petition for the expungement of the conviction. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is required to seal all cases where marijuana possession is the only offense and the charge was brought before July 1, 2023, by July 1, 2024.

Currently, the District of Columbia and 19 other states have made marijuana completely legal. Maryland is one of the 37 states that have authorized medical marijuana. In Maryland, voters are also deciding on other ballot questions. The appellate courts for the state would have their names changed. The Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest court, would change its name to the Supreme Court of Maryland. The Maryland Appellate Court would replace the state’s Court of Special Appeals as the intermediate appellate court.

The residency requirement for candidates for the state legislature is another proposed addition: A candidate would have to live in the district in which they are running for office as their “primary place of abode” for six months. That would make it impossible to qualify by renting a house in the district as a second home. Voters are also debating whether to increase the minimum amount required to qualify for a circuit court jury trial in civil cases from $15,000 to at least $25,000.