ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — Maryland leaders launched a fund two years ago that intends to use cannabis tax revenue to provide services for low-income communities, but so far it appears the money has only been used in about one third of the state’s counties, according to a Spotlight on Maryland investigation.

The Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF) was launched by Maryland state lawmakers when recreational cannabis sales began in July 2023. The fund allocates 35% of tax revenue from cannabis sales in Maryland for counties to spend on programs in low-income areas. Counties receive the money based on the proportion of cannabis possession charges in their jurisdiction relative to the statewide total from 2002 to 2023.

Spotlight on Maryland reached out to each of Maryland’s 23 counties asking how they spend CRRF money.

Seven counties said they have either spent or scheduled spending: Anne Arundel, Allegany, Baltimore, Charles, Harford, Queen Anne’s, and Wicomico.

Another seven counties said they have yet to spend the funds but are in the process of determining how to do so: Calvert, Cecil, Frederick, Howard, Kent, Saint Mary’s, and Worcester.

Two counties said they are waiting to spend funds until receiving further guidance from the Maryland Office of Social Equity (OSE), which manages CRRF: Carroll and Garrett.

The remaining counties did not respond to questions about their participation in CRRF, most notably the two most populous in the state: Montgomery and Prince George’s.

Counties that reported higher levels of finalized CRRF spending tended to have lower populations.

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano told Spotlight on Maryland that her county received $2.18 million from CRRF so far and spent $553,314 in fiscal year 2025, with another $1.38 million scheduled to be spent in the new fiscal year. The county used the money to boost programs in low-income areas such as Habitat for Humanity, a free dental clinic, mentor services for teenaged students, reintegration services for incarcerated individuals, and autism evaluations for infants and toddlers.

A Queen Anne’s County official told Spotlight on Maryland they received $595,000 through CRRF for fiscal year 2025, which was used for its Minority Entrepreneur Training Accelerator program, after-school programming, and homelessness prevention efforts.

A Harford County official told Spotlight on Maryland they received $3.15 million in CRRF funds and awarded $554,825 in grants, pending finalized agreements. The official said additional CRRF funds will be used to provide a free 8-week summer camp program for children.

An Allegany County official told Spotlight on Maryland they received $316,144 through CRRF in 2023, which was allocated in the new fiscal year starting this month. The money will be used for employment programs and scholarships at the Maryland Area Health Education Center West, as well as a cosmetology certification program through Allegany College of Maryland.

Baltimore County published a December report on its use of CRRF funds that showed it received $10.78 million and committed to spend $350,000 on its freezing weather shelter.

An Anne Arundel official told Spotlight on Maryland that they received $5.18 million through CRRF and allocated $1.78 million for its first round of grants in the new fiscal year. The official said specific spending decisions are expected to be made in the coming months.

Maryland law allows counties to decide how to manage CRRF money, with some deciding to do so within a government agency and others establishing commissions with members appointed by elected leaders.

OSE previously told Spotlight on Maryland that it allocated more than $89 million through CRRF as of February.

Legislation signed into law this year requires that OSE adopts regulations by October 1, 2025, on how funds can be spent by counties. The law requires that counties submit reports to OSE on how funds are spent by October 1, 2026. Counties can spend up to 15% of the CRRF funds on administrative expenses, according to the law.

A spokesman for Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott previously told Spotlight on Maryland the city is waiting for guidance from OSE before deciding how to spend the $5 million allocated in its new fiscal year budget from CRRF.

The law establishing CRRF in 2023 required that OSE publish a report by March of each year on how money was allocated to counties in the previous calendar year. OSE has only published data from one fiscal quarter of allocated funds so far, as previously reported by Spotlight on Maryland.

An OSE spokeswoman said they plan to publish a report on allocated CRRF funds this month and noted the agency provided proper notification of the delay to the Maryland legislature and the secretary of state’s office. She said CRRF rollouts vary in each county based on how they regulate the fund.

“By law, jurisdictions must adopt local legislation outlining how CRRF dollars will be used. As a result, timelines for spending vary based on each jurisdiction’s internal processes, including the creation of advisory bodies and public engagement mechanisms,” the OSE spokeswoman told Spotlight on Maryland.

OSE did not respond to a question about whether counties are allowed to spend CRRF funds prior to its regulations scheduled to be released in October.

Gov. Wes Moore appointed the executive director of OSE, Audrey Johnson. A spokesman for Moore’s office expressed confidence in the agency’s oversight of CRRF.

“For nearly two years, the Office of Social Equity has played a critical part in administration of the fund by making recommendations for usage, ensuring allocation to local jurisdictions in partnership with the Comptroller, reporting on its deployment, and providing oversight on spending by local jurisdictions,” the governor’s spokesman told Spotlight on Maryland. “In partnership with the communities, the funds have the potential to support increased access to mental health and substance use services, workforce development, education, and housing.”

Spotlight on Maryland is a joint venture by FOX45 News, The Baltimore Sun and WJLA in Washington, D.C. Have a news tip? Contact Patrick Hauf at pjhauf@sbgtv.com.