“It`s pretty clear that families in North Dakota don`t want marijuana all over the state,” said Luke Niforatos, executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based anti-marijuana legalization political organization that helped fight the measure in North Dakota. The move drew criticism from opponents of traditional legalization, as well as some medical marijuana advocates, who said Arkansas` proposal set too many limits and would only benefit a handful of dispensaries. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former head of the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, also opposed the measure. On Friday, April 1, 2022, lawmakers approved HB 1, which will send the issue of legalization back to voters in the November ballot. Friday, 8. As of April 2022, Governor Hogan had HB 837 — a bill that would go into effect if voters approved legalization — without his signature. If voters approve HB 1 on the ballot, HB 837 would allow residents aged 21 and older to legally own up to 1.5 ounces and grow up to two plants starting July 1, 2023. The bills also include limited cuts, funding for minority and women-owned businesses, and a community reinvestment and reparation fund. You can view our invoice summary here. According to a recent Goucher poll, 62% of Marylanders now support legalization.
Be sure to join the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition for updates. If you are a member of an organization that would like to join our coalition, we would love to hear from you. This is the second time a state legislature has introduced a constitutional amendment proposing marijuana legalization to voters. In 2020, the New Jersey state legislature voted to return an amendment to voters, which was approved. Question 4 would amend the Maryland Constitution to add a new section, Article XX, that would allow people 21 and older to use and possess marijuana. The added section also authorizes the Maryland General Assembly to “provide for the use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis in the State.” During the 2022 legislature, the state legislature also passed implementing laws that would take effect after the amendment passes. [2] Here`s what you need to know about the legalization of recreational marijuana in Maryland. Marylanders weren`t the only Americans making the decision Tuesday. Proposals to legalize marijuana were also on the ballots in Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota, CNBC reported. CNBC also noted that these votes come about a month after President Joe Biden, who urged state and local officials to follow his lead in pardoning those convicted of simple possession of marijuana on previous federal charges. Melody Finley, a Republican from Little Rock, Arkansas, said she voted in favor of the state`s legalization measure because she thought it could help some people under certain conditions. Along the way, recreational marijuana was legal in 19 states, and polls showed resistance to relaxing legalization.
Every state with recreational marijuana on the ballot, except Maryland, voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Question 4 was introduced as House Bill 1 (HB 1) by MP Luke Clippinger (D) on January 12, 2022. It was approved in the House of Representatives on February 25, 2022, by a vote of 96 to 34. All but one Republican voted against the measure. On April 1, 2022, the state Senate voted 29-17 to pass the measure with amendments. Two Democrats, Senator Joanne Benson and Jill Carter, voted with the Republican minority against the bill. On the same day, the House of Representatives voted 94-39 in favor of the amendment. Two Democrats, Rep. Debra Davis and Geraldine Valentino-Smith, joined the Republican minority and voted against the bill. One Republican, Rep. Carl Anderton Jr., voted in favor of the bill. [1] David Owen, who led North Dakota`s legalization efforts, said he wasn`t sure any further efforts would be made after the proposal was rejected.
Question 4 asked voters: “Do you support the legalization of cannabis use by a person at least 21 years of age in the state of Maryland on or after July 1, 2023?” But Rick Huffman, a voter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, voted against that state`s legalization proposal two years after approving recreational marijuana on the South Dakota ballot in 2020. “By voting for legalization, Marylanders rejected failed ideas of the past and decided to reform their laws to protect civil liberties and promote racial justice,” Erik Altieri, executive director of NORML, one of the nation`s oldest legalization groups, said in a statement. Maryland`s vote for legalization made the state the 20th to take that step. Measures were also on the ballot in Missouri and South Dakota. The legalization campaigns brought in about $23 million in the five states, the vast majority in Arkansas and Missouri. More than 85 percent of contributions in those two states came from donors affiliated with companies holding medical marijuana licenses, according to an analysis of recent campaign finance reports from The Associated Press. “The marijuana industry has spent millions of dollars to enroll in the Arkansas Constitution,” said Jerry Cox, executive director of the Family Council Action Committee, one of the groups. who oppose the measure. “Now they know that the Arkansans do not support this kind of nepotism.” Currently, medical marijuana is legal in Maryland under a 2013 law. In April 2014, possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana was decriminalized. [3] [4] A “yes” vote supports the legalization of marijuana for adults 21 and older starting in July 2023 and directs the Maryland state legislature to pass laws for the use, distribution, regulation and taxation of marijuana. South Dakota residents, including a significant number of Republicans, voted to legalize marijuana possession in 2020, but that law was struck down by the state Supreme Court in part because the proposal was associated with medical marijuana and hemp.
This year, the recreational pot has come to terms with voters. Maryland voted Tuesday night to legalize recreational marijuana use, adding it to a growing wave of states and territories that have done so since 2012. In Colorado, where recreational marijuana has been legal for nearly a decade, voters passed a proposal Tuesday that would allow the use of certain psychedelics. If approved, Colorado would be the second state to take such a step. Jeff Borgrud, 68, a Democrat from Fargo, North Dakota, said he voted against that state`s proposal for recreational marijuana. The state`s vote in Tuesday`s election follows President Joe Biden`s moves to decriminalize marijuana. Biden announced last month that he would pardon thousands of Americans convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law. “I don`t see any use for marijuana,” said Borgrud, a retired Navy veteran. “Maybe an occasional medical purpose, but very limited.” Follow the campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@YesOnMD4) for the latest news and updates! Just before the legislature adjourned its shortened 2020 session, lawmakers passed a bill — HB 83 — that would automatically protect previous cannabis charges that arose before Oct. 1, 2014, where possession was the only charge in the case.
Unfortunately, Governor Larry Hogan vetoed the legislation. However, lawmakers overrode Governor Hogan`s veto in the 2021 session, and the bill went into effect on Feb. 12, 2021.HB 83 will protect nearly 200,000 previous charges of public cannabis possession on the judiciary`s “Case Search” website. Unfortunately, this is not a complete deletion of recording. Complete removal of marijuana possession is possible after four years upon request. More information on deletion can be found here. Former Baltimore raven Eugene Monroe, a staunch advocate of marijuana policy and criminal justice reform, is leading the campaign. Marylanders will have the option to legalize cannabis for adults over the age of 21 if the question passes. Under the initiative, listed in Question 4 on the ballot, adults aged 21 and older are allowed to possess, smoke and grow marijuana.
But there are a few fine print to consider about how much is allowed and when Marylanders are legally allowed to smoke. “Legalizing cannabis would boost Maryland`s economy and create tens of thousands of well-paying jobs, while Maryland residents could benefit from vital investments in education, public health, and public safety funded by cannabis taxes,” said President Monroe. “The passage of Question 4 will end the failure to criminalize cannabis, create a well-regulated, justice-driven legal marijuana market, and open new doors for local entrepreneurs and small business owners. I hope all Marylanders will vote yes to Question 4 in November. About 6 in 10 voters support the national legalization of recreational marijuana use, according to VoteCast, a large poll of more than 90,000 voters nationwide conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for The Associated Press.