Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore plans to pardon more than 175,000 marijuana convictions on Monday, in one of the most sweeping rollbacks of drug policy in the country.
Moore's plan would apply to about 100,000 people who were convicted of low-level marijuana possession charges. Marijuana has increasingly been legalized across the country as a medicinal and recreational drug.
“I'm delighted that we have a real opportunity with what I'm signing to right a lot of historical wrongs,” Moore said. “If you want to be able to create inclusive economic growth, it means you have to start removing these barriers that continue to disproportionately impact communities of color.”
Moore's office says the wave of pardons is timed to coincide with the holiday on Wednesday, June 16.
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Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore plans to pardon more than 175,000 marijuana convictions on Monday, in one of the most sweeping rollbacks of drug policy in the country. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
Maryland has fully legalized cannabis commerce within its borders since 2023, although its close neighbors such as Washington, DC and Virginia still have some restrictions. None of the latter jurisdictions have granted pardons for marijuana-related crimes.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, a Democrat, praised Moore's pardon.
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Maryland has fully legalized cannabis commerce within its borders since 2023, although its close neighbors such as Washington, DC and Virginia still have some restrictions. None of the latter jurisdictions have granted pardons for marijuana-related crimes. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
“While pardons will be extended to anyone with a misdemeanor conviction for possession of marijuana or paraphernalia, this unequivocally, without any doubt or reservation, disproportionately impacts, in a good way, Black and Brown Marylanders.” Brown said.
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“We are arrested and convicted at higher rates for possession and use of marijuana when the rate at which we used it was no different than any other category of people,” he added.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, a Democrat, praised Moore's pardon for disproportionately helping “black and brown” residents. (fake images)
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Maryland officials clarified that none of the pardons will result in the release of people from prison because none are currently incarcerated, according to the Washington Post.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
