Maryland
Md. legalizes recreational cannabis use
Twenty-three states and D.C. have legalized non-medicinal marijuana use
Maryland on July 1 officially legalized the recreational use of cannabis.
Marylanders 21 or older can legally purchase and possess cannabis for recreational use. Police are also no longer allowed to search a vehicle or person solely on the odor of cannabis.
Maryland is the 23rd state to legalize the recreational use of cannabis, along with D.C. and three U.S. territories.
“Today, Maryland takes a significant step forward in rectifying past injustices,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a press release. “In legalizing cannabis, we are abandoning a failed criminal justice policy that perpetuated the over-policing, over-arrest, and over-incarceration of too many Marylanders, particularly Black and brown people.”
Dispensaries in the state saw record sales following the legalization, with the Maryland Cannabis Administration reporting $10.4 million in sales the following weekend.
Cannabis was legalized for medical use in Maryland in 2013, with decriminalization of possession of 10 grams or less coming in 2014. Virginia legalized recreational use of cannabis in 2021.
Possession of cannabis is legal in D.C., however there are restrictions on the sale of products, as its use is still illegal federally. Cannabis in D.C. operates under a gifting economy, where distributors exchange cannabis as a gift with the purchase of other goods such as art prints and stickers.
While smoking cannabis in Maryland is still illegal in public places, the new laws allow those incarcerated for cannabis possession or use to be re-sentenced.
Maryland in 2010 had the fifth highest arrest rate for cannabis possession in the country with cannabis arrests that year making up almost half of all Maryland’s drug possession arrests. Black people were almost three times more likely than white people to be arrested for cannabis possession.
“Marylanders overwhelmingly support this initiative, and it’s my commitment to honor the will of the people,” Brown said. “The cannabis industry that we stand up today must be rooted in fairness and equity. This means expunging the records of those targeted in the enforcement of cannabis laws, ensuring fair and equitable access to cannabis licensing and other business opportunities, and empowering disproportionately impacted communities through reinvestment.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday signed a bill that seeks to combat efforts to ban books from state libraries.
House Bill 785, also known as the Freedom to Read Act, would establish a state policy “that local school systems operate their school library media programs consistent with certain standards; requiring each local school system to develop a policy and procedures to review objections to materials in a school library media program; prohibiting a county board of education from dismissing, demoting, suspending, disciplining, reassigning, transferring, or otherwise retaliating against certain school library media program personnel for performing their job duties consistent with certain standards.”
Moore on Thursday also signed House Bill 1386, which GLSEN notes will “develop guidelines for an anti-bias training program for school employees.”
Maryland
Health care for Marylanders with HIV is facing huge cuts this summer
Providers poised to lose three-quarters of funding
BY MEREDITH COHN | By the end of June, health care providers in Maryland will lose nearly three-quarters of the funding they use to find and treat thousands of people with HIV.
Advocates and providers say they had been warned there would be less money by the Maryland Department of Health, but were stunned at the size of the drop — from about $17.9 million this fiscal year to $5.3 million the next. The deep cuts are less than three months away.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Maryland state Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery County) on Friday held a “Big Gay Canvass Kickoff” event at his congressional campaign’s headquarters.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Vice President of Outreach and Engagement Marty Rouse and John Klenert, a member of the DC Vote and Victory Fund Campaign board of directors, are among those who participated alongside members of Equality PAC. Vogel spoke before Rouse, Klenert and others canvassed for votes in the area.
“Joe brings a fresh new perspective to politics,” said Gabri Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, deputy field director for Vogel’s campaign.
Vogel, 27, is among the Democrats running for Congressman David Trone’s seat.
Trone last May announced his bid to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in the U.S. Senate.
The Democratic primary is on May 14. Vogel would be the first Latino, the first gay man and first Gen Zer elected to Congress from Maryland if he were to win in November.
“We need a new generation of leadership with new perspectives, new ideas, and the courage to actually deliver for our communities if we want things to get better in this country,” Vogel told the Washington Blade last month during an interview in D.C.
Md. governor signs Freedom to Read Act
The rise of virtual home tours
Round House explores serious issues related to privilege
Successful open relationships take effort
Ed Bailey brings Secret Garden to Project GLOW festival
State Department releases annual human rights report
Catching up with the asexuals and aromantics of D.C.
Argentina government dismisses transgender public sector employees
Maine governor signs transgender, abortion sanctuary bill into law
Bowser budget proposal calls for $5.25 million for 2025 World Pride
-
State Department5 days agoState Department releases annual human rights report
-
District of Columbia3 days agoCatching up with the asexuals and aromantics of D.C.
-
South America3 days agoArgentina government dismisses transgender public sector employees
-
Maine4 days agoMaine governor signs transgender, abortion sanctuary bill into law