A Maryland House bill that would allow adults to manufacture cannabis edibles and concentrates for personal use is now officially heading to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk. The Senate companion version of the measure is also progressing through the legislature.
The House-passed bill, introduced by Dels. David Moon (D) and Luke Clippinger (D), received final approval in the Senate on Wednesday with a 38-9 vote. Meanwhile, the Senate version, led by Sen. William Smith (D), previously cleared the chamber in a 35-8 vote and is now pending before the House of Delegates Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.
Expanding Personal Cannabis Use in Maryland
While Maryland already permits adults to grow their own cannabis plants, this legislation would further allow them to produce non-flower marijuana products such as tinctures, edibles, and concentrates at home. However, the bill prohibits the use of volatile solvents in concentrate production, maintaining safety regulations.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) supports the bill, stating,
“Cannabis is legal in Maryland. It shouldn’t be a crime to produce tinctures, edibles, and other products for personal use at home. This is not only cost-effective but also cuts down on traveling to faraway dispensaries for rural Marylanders.”
Changes to Cannabis Possession Penalties
The bill also reduces penalties for high-volume cannabis possession. Under the new law:
- Possessing, cultivating, or distributing more than 50 pounds of cannabis would no longer be a felony with a mandatory five-year prison sentence.
- Instead, it would be reclassified as a misdemeanor, carrying a maximum 10-year sentence and/or a $50,000 fine.
Additionally, individuals currently serving mandatory minimum sentences for cannabis-related offenses would be able to petition for a sentence modification.
Additional Cannabis-Related Legislation Advancing
This bill follows other cannabis policy advancements in Maryland:
- The Maryland Senate recently passed legislation protecting fire and rescue workers from being penalized for off-duty medical marijuana use.
- Employers would be prohibited from disciplining or terminating employees solely based on a positive THC metabolite test.
- In January, officials moved to relax cannabis policies for police recruits to address staffing shortages.
- Gov. Moore recently proposed expanding criminal record expungement for cannabis-related offenses, including allowing individuals who violated probation due to cannabis use to petition for record erasure.
As Maryland continues shaping its cannabis laws, all eyes are on Gov. Wes Moore to see if he will sign the latest legislation into law.
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