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Maryland voters overwhelmingly authorised a referendum (Question 4) directing state lawmakers to determine guidelines and rules governing the manufacturing and sale of hashish to adults.
“Maryland voters have overwhelmingly rejected the failed coverage of prohibition and voted for the widespread sense coverage of legalization,” commented NORML Govt Director Erik Altieri, “For a lot too many a long time, Maryland’s prohibition has been an utter failure and which has had devastating penalties on already marginalized communities within the state. By voting for legalization, Marylanders have rejected the failed concepts of the previous and have chosen to reform their legal guidelines to guard civil liberties and promote racial justice.”
“State lawmakers have had a few years to organize for this second,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano stated. “Statewide polling had persistently proven {that a} supermajority of Marylanders help legalizing hashish, and the result of this referendum was by no means unsure. Now it’s incumbent upon lawmakers to maneuver swiftly to undertake guidelines to supervise a regulated hashish market in accordance with voters’ calls for.”
“Maryland voters have been loud and clear of their help for legalizing the accountable adult-use of hashish,” stated Maryland NORML Govt Director Losia Nyankale. “Query 4 prompts lengthy overdue adjustments to Maryland’s judicial, social, and financial climates. This is a vital first step in the proper path.”
Luke Jones, Maryland NORML Director of Legislative Affairs stated, “This can be a historic step towards a extra simply and rational public coverage. Maryland NORML has been to Annapolis year-after-year demanding hashish coverage reform, and tonight our voices have been heard.”
By approving Query 4, voters additionally triggered the enactment of separate, complementary laws (HB 837) defining marijuana possession limits and facilitating the automated evaluation and expungement of low-level hashish convictions. Underneath the laws, which was passed by lawmakers this spring, adults can be legally permitted to own as much as 1.5 ounces of hashish and/or 12 grams of hashish concentrates starting in July 2023. Adults may also be permitted to develop as much as two hashish crops of their houses for their very own private use. Possessing quantities between 1.5 ounces and a couple of.5 ounces can be topic to civil fines, whereas the possession of larger portions will stay topic to present felony penalties.
Maryland is the twentieth state to legalize marijuana for grownup use, and it’s the second to take action by way of the passage of a popular referendum.
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