We are happy to announce that this session has ended with some cannabis “wins” in Maryland! Governor Wes Moore signed into law bills to legalize home production of edible products, reduce penalties for some cannabis offenses, allow for resentencing, and expand expungement.

With the passage of Delegate David Moon’s (D) HB 413, Marylanders will now be allowed to manufacture cannabis products for personal use. It will also reduce the grossly excessive, five-year mandatory sentence for some cannabis offenses. For example, pertaining to volume dealers of cannabis, the charge will now be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Moreover, the governor also signed Sen. Nick Charles’s (D) bill, SB 432, into law. The bill forbids any cannabis possession charge the governor has pardoned from coming up in Maryland’s Judiciary Case Search. We fully support this passing so that individuals no longer have to carry the burden of a criminal record for simply possessing cannabis.

Another positive bill for cannabis businesses passed into law, SB 215, which outlines new changes for cannabis businesses. Notably, the bill allows another limited round of licenses for growers, processors, dispensaries, micro-licenses, and on-site consumption lounges to be issued. The on-site computation lounge will also now be allowed to sell non-infused food products in addition to single-serve cannabis products.

We are grateful for Governor Wes Moore’s long-standing dedication to cannabis reforms. The Maryland Legislature’s work helps undo the unfair burden of cannabis charges that have plagued people for decades. We hope other states will follow suit.

We would like to see even more restorative cannabis bills passed in the next session. Bills like SB 1023, which would have offered employment protections for fire and rescue workers who use cannabis, deserved a hearing this session. First responders are more than deserving of responsibly using cannabis in their time off.