Maryland’s recreational marijuana market launches despite health worries.

Maryland Becomes 23rd State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Maryland’s new law legalizing marijuana officially took effect this weekend, making it the 23rd state to have legalized recreational marijuana.

The new statute allows for anyone 21 years or older regardless of state residence to purchase up to 1.5 ounces of flower, 12 grams of concentrates, or edibles with up to 750 milligrams of THC, the active chemical in the plant. Individuals can also own a maximum of two cannabis plants.

Concerns Over Health Dangers of Excessive Marijuana Consumption

Despite the nearly $25 billion in revenue from nationwide recreational marijuana sales in 2023, medical experts continue to warn of the health dangers of excessive marijuana consumption.

David Gortler, former senior adviser for drug safety at the Food and Drug Administration, told the Washington Examiner that “marijuana is not innocuous” and that both THC and CBD “are not harmless drugs.”

Gortler also expressed concern that states have begun the move toward legalization for political reasons rather than with sound medical and scientific expertise.

“When state governments start making decisions on complex matters of pharmacology and drug safety without consulting or themselves being experts, problems are going to occur,” Gortler said.

Implications for Criminal Justice Reform

Marylanders approved recreational marijuana legalization by ballot initiative last November, creating a constitutional amendment granting the General Assembly the ability to legislate on the regulation and taxation of recreational cannabis sales. At least in part, this nationwide push for marijuana legalization has been connected to calls for criminal justice reform.

Medicinal marijuana was legalized in the state in 2014 under Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD), at which time the threat of jail time for certain small possession charges was removed. Under the current law, possession of more than 2.5 ounces will carry a $250 civil penalty.

Individuals who were formerly incarcerated for possession charges will now also be eligible for record expungement, and all records for simple possession charges are required to be expunged by July 2024. Those currently incarcerated are eligible for resentencing, including immediate release if this is their only charge.

Health Risks and Concerns

The political implications do not change the fact that marijuana is a “messy” drug, Gortler said.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that one in 10 marijuana users will become addicted to the substance, and the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6 if regular marijuana use begins before age 18.

Long-term marijuana use has also been found to permanently lower IQ points and increase the development of mood and psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction,” according to SAMSHA.

The American Addiction Centers also highlight that the increasing potency of commercial marijuana “could pose additional, yet-unknown risks” to bodily and cognitive health. AAC reports that the amount of THC in recreational marijuana has increased by over 10% in the past 20 years, the ramifications of which are uncertain to physicians and scientists.

Although marijuana is the most common illicit substance used while pregnant, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that THC does transfer from mother to child via the bloodstream and breast milk.

The AAP issued updated guidance on the topic in 2018 because of the idea, spread in part via social media, that marijuana use can help with nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy.

While there have been no randomized clinical trials due to safety and ethical concerns, the AAP strongly advises clinicians to counsel their patients on how marijuana use may impact neurodevelopment during pregnancy and in the early stages of childhood.

“Legalization of marijuana may give the false impression that marijuana is safe,” wrote the 2018 authors.

Drug Interactions and Safety

Gortler also said that “there are hundreds of drug interactions with marijuana and existing drugs,” noting that patients should be advised of adverse reactions before using marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes.

“I think that every single one of those dispensaries should be required to employ a … clinical pharmacist … who can go over their medical and medication histories and understand drug interactions,” he said.

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