Category: Maryland
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Maryland General Assembly Will Consider Multiple Cannabis Bills in 2021
The General Assembly will consider passing a number of cannabis-related bills in 2021, that would further reduce the prosecution of individuals for cannabis use in the workplace or the justice system, including outright legalization. Despite the majority of Marylanders being in support of legal cannabis, it may be difficult for the legislature to establish an…
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Quick Hit: MMCC Debates Maryland Cannabis Legalization Bill
A fascinating debate about the future of cannabis in Maryland popped-up in the middle of last week’s Maryland Medicinal Cannabis Commission (MMCC) meeting. Director of the Office of Policy and Government Affairs Taylor Kasky highlighted a number of particularly notable cannabis bills introduced this legislative session (Kasky noted that in total there are about 35…
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Quick Hit: Anti-Cannabis Andy Harris Brought a Gun Into the Capitol Last Week?
On Thursday Jan. 21, the day after President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Maryland Representative Andy Harris—who as we’re saying here at The Outlaw Report just about every week, is the main reason why there’s no regulated, commercial cannabis in Washington D.C.—set off the Capitol building metal detector because he had a gun on him. According to…
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Episode 13: What’s Next for Cannabis Reform in the DMV?
For the Season One finale, Scott and Brandon reflect on cannabis reform in 2020 and the recent coup attempt at the Capitol. They go on to discuss what’s next for cannabis reform in 2021 in the DMV, including the implications of potential DC statehood and the legalization bills working their ways through the legislatures in…
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Maryland General Assembly Considers Decriminalizing An Ounce Of Cannabis…Again
Last week the Maryland General Assembly held hearings in both the House and Senate to discuss increasing the amount of cannabis decriminalized for personal use from 10 grams to one ounce (26 grams). The House of Delegates passed this measure in 2020 as HB 550 but did not send the legislation to the Senate in…
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Maryland Cannabis Employees Eligible for Vaccine, Qualifying As Essential Healthcare Workers
Maryland cannabis industry employees are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during phase 1A of Maryland’s distribution program, qualifying as healthcare providers and essential employees. According to a Jan. 11 notice released by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC), anyone who works in the cannabis industry that is registered with the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission…
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Democratic Senate Victories Mean High Chance of Federal Cannabis Decriminalization in 2021
For the first time in U.S. history, the White House and both chambers of Congress will be controlled by Democratic party leaders who support decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level. Last week’s victories of Senator-Elects Jon Ossoff and Pastor Raphael Warnock secured Democrats’ control of the senate, a big step in the right direction towards…
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Following Capitol Attack, Maryland Democrats Demand Cannabis Reform Enemy Andy Harris Resign
Undeterred by the previous day’s attack on the Capitol where Trump supporters destroyed property, stole objects, and killed one police officer and injured many more, Maryland Representative—and well-known enemy for cannabis reform—Andy Harris continued making claims of election fraud on the House Floor, yelling and punching his fists in the air early in the morning…
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Maryland Recreational Cannabis Bill Pre-filed by P.G. County Delegate for 2021 Legislative Session
Legislation that legalizes cannabis for recreational use and outlines provisions for recreational cannabis sales in Maryland was pre-filed by Delegate Jazz Lewis before the General Assembly convenes on January 13, indicating the growing likelihood that the legislature will vote on recreational cannabis in 2021. As first reported by Marijuana Moment, Lewis released a draft of…
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The Year in Cannabis: Maryland
Even before COVID-19 slowed Maryland politics down and ultimately shortened the 2020 legislative session, it did not appear to be a year where major cannabis reform was going to happen. Maryland’s Marijuana Legalization Workgroup had already announced it would not be recommending cannabis legalization, citing among many reasons, concerns about racial equity which have dogged…
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Beyoncé Gives $10,000 to Black-owned MD Cannabis Company
Beyoncé’s foundation BeyGood and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) have given a Maryland-based cannabis company a grant for $10,000. The BeyGood/NAACP grants specifically support Black-owned businesses affected by COVID-19 and The Gift, a cannabis company operating out of Beltsville, Maryland were one of the grantees. In a press release, The…
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Sinclair-Connected Curio Wellness Establishes Investment Fund To Increase Diversity
Curio Wellness, which has faced criticism over the past two years due to the cannabis company’s connections to right-wing Sinclair Broadcasting, and for filing a lawsuit challenging a state law encouraging diversity in the cannabis industry, has announced a funding program to support minority, medicinal cannabis business entrepreneurs. Curio Wellness announced on December 1 that…