In another positive move to advance our country forward and “bring social and economic injustice that disproportionately harmed people of color,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order that will pardon misdemeanor charges for over 175, 000 people “who were found guilty of possessing small amounts of marijuana, usually for personal use.” Figures show that “more than 150,000 of the convictions being pardoned are misdemeanors for simple possession of cannabis, and another 18,000 misdemeanors are for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.” Baltimore makes up nearly 25 percent of the convictions being pardoned. Pardoning these convictions will enable more people to attain “employment, housing, and education.”
Adult-use recreational marijuana was legalized in Maryland in 2022. The District of Columbia and 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana.
"I'm ecstatic that we have a real opportunity with what I'm signing to right a lot of historical wrongs," Moore said in an interview with the Post. "If you want to be able to create inclusive economic growth, it means you have to start removing these barriers that continue to disproportionately sit on communities of color."
Adult-use recreational marijuana was legalized in Maryland in 2022. The District of Columbia and 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana.
