Maryland’s marijuana law went into effect Saturday. Simple possession and personal cultivation became legal, as most existing medical cannabis dispensaries began selling recreational marijuana to adults.
A separate law took effect Saturday which prohibits police officers from searching based solely on the smell or possession of marijuana. Another law coming into effect prevents state officials from interpreting the responsible and lawful use of cannabis by parents or guardians as “neglect”.
State regulators have approved the conversion of nearly 100 dispensaries to dual licensees, which will allow them to serve patients as well as adult consumers older than 21 years old. This is in accordance with a ballot initiative approved by voters.
The lawmakers have been working quickly to put in place the infrastructure for the industry, along with the legalizations of home cultivation and simple possession. Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, signed legislation in May that established a regulatory framework to achieve this goal.
First official adult-use sale at @ApothecariumMd, Cumberland MD! Congratulations @JasonGWild pic.twitter.com/LTooczxSUD
Don Murphy (@donmurphy12a July 1, 2020
The Maryland Cannabis Administration announced Wednesday that 42 growers and manufacturers have been approved to supply this new market.
Will Tilburg, MCA’s acting director, said in a Friday press release that the Maryland Cannabis Administration is thrilled to be able to provide adults in Maryland with safer, legalized, and tested cannabis starting on July 1. We encourage adults to learn about the new laws and safe and responsible cannabis use.
In the release, it is noted that certain products can be purchased legally as of Saturday, including dried flower, prerolled joints, disposable vape pen cartridges, edibles and capsules.
It states that smoking cannabis in public is prohibited, including in outdoor areas, bars, restaurants, public transportation, and moving vehicles. Driving under the influence of marijuana is still prohibited in Maryland. It is also illegal to transport cannabis purchased in Maryland outside of Maryland.
Dawn Berkowitz, MCA’s Deputy Director, said the administration has “developed public and consumer educational materials to encourage informed and responsible cannabis use. We will continue rolling out a campaign over the next few weeks and months.”
She said that all dispensaries received educational materials at the point of sale, which are especially useful for novice or new consumers. Posters that provide an overview of laws will be displayed. They will also encourage consumers to “start low and go slowly” when it comes time to consume cannabis, and to keep the drug safely stored at home in a lockable container.
Sen. Brian Feldman, a Democrat who has championed cannabis-legalization legislation, gave a speech at a Trulieve in Rockville, Maryland, on Saturday. He said that it was “pretty amazing how the landscape of cannabis has changed dramatically over the past decade.”
We’re celebrating an historic day in Maryland with the launch of Adult Use. Join us at #Trulieve #Rockville, or on @TrulieveMD to get more information and live updates all day long!
#Recreational #Cannabis https://t.co/x7WLvs8DTITrulieve July 1, 2020
De. Jheanelle Wikins (D), the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland spoke with Feldman to celebrate “the expansion of a new industry in Maryland.”
She said, “We’re putting another nail into the coffin of our war on drugs.”
MCA published a first set of rules for the industry in May to the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review. This was a crucial step to establish the industry, which launched on Saturday.
The 41-page document outlines definitions, codifies possession limits for individuals, lays down responsibilities for regulators and explains licensing protocols, including for social equity applicants. It also clarifies the enforcement authorities, penalties, and packaging requirements.
Last month, the Department of Commerce of the state began accepting grant applications for existing medical marijuana businesses to convert them into dual licenses, which can serve the adult market.
Marylanders expressed their desire to end cannabis prohibition on the ballot in November last year. Olivia Naugle is a senior policy analyst with the Marijuana Policy Project. She said in a recent press release that “this historic moment has finally arrived.” These new laws will reduce the number of police interactions with cannabis and give adults over 21 years old safe and legal access to cannabis. We are proud to celebrate this victory with our allies, legislators, and Marylanders from across the state.
What adults should know about Maryland’s new legalization law, which took effect Saturday:
- Adults aged 21 and over can now possess up to 1,5 ounces of marijuana. Criminal penalties for possession up to 2.5 ounces is also abolished.
- Cannabis can be gifted without compensation. They may also grow up to 2 plants for their own use.
- The proposed law will automatically expunge convictions for any conduct that is now legal. People currently serving prison time for these offenses are eligible to be resentenced.
- Three years after serving their sentence, people convicted of possession with intent for distribution can apply to the court for expungement.
According to the separate law for police on cannabis odor that took effect also on Saturday, “law enforcement may not initiate a check or stop of a vehicle, person or vessel based on the smell of unburnt or burnt cannabis or possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use or the presence money near marijuana” without any additional evidence.
The bill also states that police are not allowed to search parts of an automobile for marijuana when investigating suspected drunk driving. This includes parts that the driver cannot access or areas that “are not reasonably likely to contain evidence that is relevant to the condition or the driver of the vehicle.”
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The third law, which takes effect Saturday, adds to the existing statute that childhood neglect does not include cannabis use by parents or individuals who have permanent or temporary custody of the child or are responsible for their supervision. There are some exceptions.
Caretakers could be held liable for neglect if the child’s welfare or health is damaged or placed at risk as a result parental marijuana use.
The relatively short timeline for commercial sales launch has also put pressure on the state officials to implement the regulations that were drafted in recent weeks.
In a blog, NORML Deputy director Paul Armentano stated that Maryland residents, like most Americans, prefer a cannabis legalization policy and regulation. They are moving away from failed policies of stigmatization and criminalization.
The ballot measure and the subsequent regulation legislation that was signed by the Governor were partly a result of extensive work done by bipartisan and bicameral legislators who were members of House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup , which was created in 2021 and led by Speaker Adrienne Jones .
Jones tweeted Saturday that “today, recreational adult cannabis is legal in Maryland.” “We have done our due diligence. “We have done our due diligence. We have collected the best practices in recreational cannabis from other states and lessons from the medical marijuana industry to create a fair implementation framework.”
Maryland has legalized recreational cannabis for adults. We have done our due diligence. We have combined the best practices in recreational cannabis from other states and the lessons learned from the medical marijuana industry to create a fair implementation framework. pic.twitter.com/NtWKRYMHYM
Speaker Adrienne A. (@SpeakerAJones ) 1 July 2023
The members held a number of meetings to inform the future regulations after Maryland voters approved a legalization referendum during the election last year, which triggered implementation of complementary legislation that covered rules for basic polices like possession and low level home cultivation.
Some parts of the referendum came into effect at the start of this year. Possession of cannabis up to 1.5 ounces is now a civil offence punishable with a $100 fine. For more than 1.5 and up to 2 ounces, the fine increases to $250.
Maryland lawmakers began the process of legalizing adult-use marijuana in 2021, but there were no votes. In 2021, the Senate Finance Committee heard a bill on legalization. This was followed by a House Judiciary Committee on a cannabis proposal.
Maryland legalized medical marijuana in 2012 through a law passed by the Maryland legislature. In 2012, Maryland legalized medical cannabis through an act of the legislature.
In May , the governor also signed a bill that would ensure that state officials will not interpret parents’ and guardians’ use of marijuana in a responsible and lawful manner as “neglect” by their children.
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Photo by WeedPornDaily.
The post Maryland Marijuana Legalization Law Takes Effect Officially As Adult-Use Sale Launch first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
