Maryland Speaker Announces Support for Referendum to Legalize Cannabis

House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones said Friday that she will support a referendum on the 2022 ballot to decide whether marijuana should be legalized.

While maintaining her own reservations, Jones announced the creation of a cannabis workgroup, which will create a plan for a legal marijuana industry in Maryland, if approved by voters.

“While I have personal concerns about encouraging marijuana use, particularly among children and young adults, the disparate criminal justice impact leads me to believe that the voters should have a say in the future of legalization,” Jones (D-Baltimore County) said in a statement. “The House will pass legislation early next year to put this question before the voters but we need to start looking at changes needed to State law now.”

She also announced members of the House Cannabis Workgroup, which will be headed by House Judiciary Chair Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City).

Read more: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/07/16/maryland-speaker-announces-support-for-referendum-to-legalize-cannabis/