Maryland Governor Pardons Over 175,000 Marijuana Convictions
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, has signed an executive order that grants pardons to over 175,000 individuals with misdemeanor marijuana convictions. This action, taking place a year after the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state, is set to impact approximately 100,000 people convicted of simple possession of cannabis or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia. The pardons are notable as Maryland is the first state to mass pardon individuals for drug paraphernalia-related offenses. Governor Moore emphasized the importance of aligning the benefits of legalization with addressing past criminalization impacts. His office highlighted the commitment to promoting social equity and removing barriers in housing, employment, or education for those affected. Attorney General Anthony Skywatchers have described the pardons as a pivotal step for racial justice, acknowledging the disproportionate impact past laws had on African Americans and other people of color.
Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order pardoning more than 175,000 marijuana convictions on Monday.
Moore’s mass pardons come a year after the state legalized recreational marijuana and are estimated to affect around 100,000 people who have misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis or for possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, NBC News reported. With Moore’s executive order, Maryland became the first state to issue mass pardons for people convicted of crimes related to owning drug paraphernalia.
“We cannot celebrate the benefits of legalization if we do not address the consequences of criminalization,” Moore said. “So I want to be clear: When it comes to cannabis, rolling out one of the best and most equitable legal markets in the country is incredibly important. But that rollout must go hand in hand with pardoning past conduct, and Maryland is going to lead by example.”
The governor’s office added that it “is committed to promoting social equity and ensuring the fair and equitable administration of justice. Because the use and possession of cannabis is no longer illegal in the state, Marylanders should not continue to face barriers to housing, employment, or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.”
Maryland Democratic Attorney General Anthony Brown said Monday’s pardons are “about racial justice.”
“While the order applies to all who meet its criteria, the impact is a triumphant victory for African Americans and other Marylanders of color who were disproportionately arrested, convicted and sentenced for actions yesterday that are lawful today,” Brown said, according to The New York Times.
Maryland is one of 24 states, along with Washington, D.C., that has legalized recreational marijuana. While other states and jurisdictions have issued pardons for low-level marijuana offenses, Moore’s executive order stands out as one of the largest pardons for those convicted of cannabis-related crimes, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Earlier this year, Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey also issued mass pardons for marijuana possession convictions.
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President Joe Biden is reportedly looking to reclassify recreational marijuana as a Schedule III substance, downgrading the drug from Schedule I, where it sits alongside heroin and LSD. According to Campus Drug Prevention, an official U.S. government website, Schedule I drugs “are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” while Schedule III drugs “are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
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