Category: Criminal Justice
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Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Meeting Deals With COVID-19, Ignores Cheryl Glenn Scandal Again
This month’s Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) meeting, held on March 25 over teleconference due to COVID-19, was the second meeting this year that did not address what most of the Maryland cannabis industry is discussing: The ongoing Cheryl Glenn scandal. Since last month’s February 20 meeting, businessman Lance Lucas pleaded guilty to bribing former…
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Changes to Cannabis Charges in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia Amid Coronavirus
Last week, a statement released by the Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP), an organization focused on progressive change among prosecutors, recommended that amid the spread of Coronavirus, older and other especially vulnerable inmates be released and overall, law enforcement reduce the number of arrests and “stop admitting people to jail absent a serious risk to…
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Coronavirus Reveals Cannabis Law Contradictions in DMV
The Coronavirus has made it clear that critiques directed towards many of the systems in the United States are no longer up for debate. Suddenly, even some Republicans are suggesting socialism-tinged policies to address the pandemic and the need to get people out of jail, to put a pause on evictions, and hand over thousands…
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Cannabis Legalization in Maryland a Non-Starter in 2020, But Still Worth Debating
The day before a hearing earlier this month regarding Delegate David Moon-sponsored House Bill 1400, an ambitious cannabis bill that would establish legalization of cannabis and allow for home growing in Maryland, Maryland Marijuana Justice (MDMJ) was characteristically honest. “Join us tomorrow in Annapolis to advocate in support of #HB1400 introduced by @DavidMoon2014,” @MDMJ tweeted…
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Before Coronavirus Adjournment, Crucial Cannabis Legislation Passes House
In response to the coronavirus, it was announced on Sunday, March 15 that the legislative session would end early—wrapping up on March 18 rather than April 6. As a result, a number of bills will be put on pause, and Senate President Bill Ferguson along with House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones said they…
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Petitioning for Decriminalizing Psychedelics Gets Delayed Due to Coronavirus
Last Thursday, the D.C. Board of Elections voted 2-0 to allow the Decriminalize Nature D.C. organization to postpone petitioning for Initiative 81, otherwise known as the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020. According to Marijuana Moment, the tentative new date for circulation approval is April 1. The board has not authorized a deadline…
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Marilyn Mosby’s Cannabis Possession Policy One Year Later
On January 29, 2019, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced a major shift in cannabis policy: The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) would no longer be prosecuting cannabis possession cases in Baltimore, regardless of weight or past criminal record. “We need to get serious about prioritizing what actually makes us safe,” Mosby said…
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Coronavirus Threatens D.C.’s Success for Decriminalizing Psychedelics
The Decriminalize Nature D.C. organization has asked the D.C. Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser to develop and sponsor emergency legislation to authorize the Board of Elections to provide for online collection of signatures, citing the coronavirus. The organization will need to collect more than 35,000 signatures from D.C. voters to get their initiative that hopes…
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Analysis Shows Medicinal Cannabis’ ‘Dramatic Effect’ on Maryland Economy
The Maryland Cannabis Wholesale Association recently released an economic impact analysis conducted by California-based independent research firm Beacon Economics that shows the wide-ranging economic impact of medicinal cannabis. According to the report, the industry has added 4,000 jobs to the state and generated 21.7 million dollars in tax revenue and overall, “contributed over $580 million…
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Legalization of Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Program Soon to Be a Reality
Virginia lawmakers in the Senate and House of Delegates approved a bill that would ensure that no person is arrested, persecuted, or denied any right or privilege in participating in the state’s medical cannabis program. Sen. David Marsden’s legislation, SB 1015, now heads to Governor Ralph Northam’s desk for signature. Marsden told The Associated Press,…
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D.C. Council Candidate Christina Henderson’s Vision for Cannabis
After two terms as At-Large Councilmember, David Grosso is not running for reelection, but has instead chosen to endorse one of his former staff members: Christina Henderson. This Brooklyn-born candidate has a weighty past in the District, having influenced legislation on a variety of issues, ranging from D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) facilities to reproductive health…