Maryland House Bill allowing adults to produce marijuana edibles or concentrates to use for themselves is now officially headed to the governor. A companion Senate version is also making its way through the Maryland legislature.
The Senate approved the legislation passed by the House on Wednesday. David Moon and Luke Clippinger voted 38-9 for the legislation to be sent to Gov. Wes Moore. Wes Moore (D).
While the state’s cannabis law already allows adults to cultivate their own plants, the measures would expand their options to account for non-flower marijuana products that can be made at home.
They would still prohibit the use volatile solvents in creating cannabis concentrates.
Under the legislation, possession, cultivation and distribution of high-volume cannabis in excess of 50 pounds would no longer be considered a felony punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. The misdemeanor would carry a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or $50,000 fine.
This would allow people facing mandatory minimum prison terms for marijuana-related crimes to request a court sentence reduction.
Maryland is a legal cannabis state. The Marijuana Policy Project’s (MPP’s) recent advisory stated that making tinctures and edibles for personal consumption at home shouldn’t be illegal. It is also cost-effective for Marylanders who live in rural areas to avoid traveling long distances to dispensaries. A five-year sentence for cannabis possession is excessive.
These bills address other issues besides marijuana, such as enhancing the penalties for firearms crimes.
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Their advancement comes about one week after the Maryland Senate passed a measure to protect for fire and rescue workers from being penalized for off-duty use of medical marijuana.
The employer could not discriminate or discipline the public safety firefighter or rescuer based on the result of a THC screening.
In January, officials in Maryland’s most populous county separately said they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage.
The governor also announced in his State of the State speech last month that he would be introducing legislation to allow more people to get their marijuana criminal records expunged. It will now enable people who broke the conditions of their probation or parole, to ask the court to remove their records.
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