Legislation legalizing recreational marijuana in Maryland on July 1 — a year faster than a leading House measure — attracted significant support Thursday during a state Senate hearing.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Jill Carter, a Baltimore Democrat, would create a legal recreational marijuana market without first asking voters to approve a state constitutional amendment in the November general election.
Carter’s measure, which would place the legal limit at 4 ounces, aims to ensure that communities heavily policed during the war on drugs can benefit from the burgeoning industry supplying the drug.
Her legislation would immediately establish marijuana regulations and raise the limit higher than a measure approved by the House last week. The House measure would take effect in July 2023 if voters approved.
An alternative proposal by Sen. Brian Feldman, a Montgomery County Democrat, also would create a regulatory framework — for example, on taxing marijuana sales — while similarly requiring a voter referendum. His bill would legalize 2 ounces per person age 21 or over.
The recently passed House bill could allow eligible people to possess up to 1.5 ounces of recreational marijuana after July 1, 2023. Under current law possession of 10 grams (about a third of an ounce) can mean prison and a fine. [Read more at The Baltimore Sun]
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