Last week a key Maryland House committee approved a pair of bills to put a marijuana legalization referendum on the November ballot. The committee has already began to set up details for the program if voters approve it.
Both measures are being sponsored by Del. Luke Clippinger (D), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee that approved the measures. According to Del. Robbyn Lewis (D), the proposals are expected to be taken up on the floor “next week.”
The first proposal, HB 1, would ask voters to approve an amendment to the state’s constitution to legalize cannabis use and possession by adults at least 21 years old. It would also direct lawmakers to set laws to “provide for the use, distribution, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state.”
The bill was approved in a 14-6 vote.
The second measure, HB 837, is designed to get started on that work. It specifies that the purchase and possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis would be legal for adults, and it would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 2.5 ounces.
Additionally past convictions for conduct made legal under the proposed law would be automatically expunged, and people currently serving time for such offenses would be eligible for resentencing.
That measure passed in a 15-5 vote.
The committee also approved amendments to reduce the penalty for public consumption and legalize cannabis paraphernalia.
“We’re grateful to Maryland’s legislative leaders for prioritizing cannabis legalization and are encouraged by the amendments made in House Judiciary to expand legalized conduct,” Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Marijuana Moment.
