In a historic move, Maryland Governor Wes Moore is issuing pardons for over 175,000 cannabis convictions, marking one of the most extensive efforts in the country to provide relief for those with old nonviolent offenses.
Maryland’s Move Towards Equity
Maryland legalized the possession and sale of marijuana for adults on July 1 of last year, following a resounding vote in favor of a referendum. Governor Moore, the nation’s only Black governor and a rising star in national Democratic circles, emphasized that this move aligns with his campaign promise to create a more equitable Maryland. He highlighted that it also aims to eliminate systemic barriers that disproportionately impact Black and brown residents.
“We know that legalization does not turn back the clock on decades of harm caused by the war on drugs,” Moore said during a ceremony in Annapolis. “We cannot celebrate the benefits of legalization if we do not address the consequences of criminalization.”
Comprehensive Pardon for Nonviolent Offenses
The executive action signed by Moore will pardon tens of thousands of individuals with nonviolent marijuana possession and paraphernalia charges, some dating back over 40 years. The governor noted that criminal convictions can impede individuals’ access to employment, housing, and education, creating long-term detrimental effects.
Moore also celebrated what he called the nation’s “most successful rollout of the recreational cannabis market,” which included 174 social equity applicants now licensed to sell marijuana in the state. This, he said, is crucial because when voters approved legalization, it did not erase the fact that half of the drug arrests for cannabis in Maryland were for possession, with Black Marylanders being three times more likely to be arrested than their white counterparts.
Addressing Historic Injustices
“The mandate that the people gave us was about recreational use. The mandate we gave ourselves was to right historic wrongs,” Moore told POLITICO. He emphasized that his goal is to prevent cannabis convictions from being used as a tool to restrict Black men and boys from fully participating in society.
“If I walk out of this office at the end of my time, and we still have people with cannabis convictions on books who are still not able to participate in our society, then what have I done?” Moore said.
Pathway to Expungement
While the pardons do not automatically clear convictions from a person’s record, Moore’s aides indicated that all those pardoned will have a pathway to expunge their records eventually. This initiative follows the lead of President Joe Biden, who granted clemency for federal marijuana possession convictions in October 2022 and encouraged governors to do the same for state-level convictions.
Broader Impact and Future Prospects
Several marijuana policy organizations applauded Moore’s actions. Maritza Perez Medina, director of federal affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, noted the significance of the sheer number of pardons and the inclusion of paraphernalia charges.
“This really does ensure that people have access to education, housing, better jobs,” Perez Medina said, hoping other states will see the benefits of such actions on both individuals and the economy.
Earlier this year, Biden reiterated that no one should be imprisoned for cannabis use and highlighted efforts to review federal marijuana restrictions. Despite marijuana being classified as a Schedule I narcotic, a recent review by the Department of Health and Human Services recommended reclassifying it as a Schedule III drug, acknowledging some medical benefits and reducing its perceived harm compared to other dangerous drugs.
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