Back in 2022, Marylanders passed a referendum to legalize the possession and use of recreational cannabis.
This was a historic step in the right direction, but it was just the start.
We can’t celebrate the benefits of legalization if we ignore the consequences of criminalization.
Legalization did not erase the fact that nearly half of the arrests made for drug possession in the early 2000s were for cannabis violations.
It didn’t erase the fact that black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than white Marylanders.
It doesn’t erase the fact that having a conviction on your record makes it harder for people to access housing, employment, and education.
That is why my administration pardoned 175,000 convictions for misdemeanor cannabis possession: The largest state pardon in the history of this country.
I am proud to have helped thousands of Marylanders reclaim their livelihood, but this is just the first step.
Policymaking is powerful. And, if you look at the past, you can see that policies have been used to hold back entire communities. The war on drugs is just one example.
There is still more work to do to enact the kinds of policies that can reverse the harm of the past, and help us work together to build a better future.
Elevate,
Wes
