Legalizing recreational marijuana in Maryland not likely in 2020: ‘We are still in the investigative mode’

The prospect of legalizing recreational marijuana use in Maryland is growing dim for 2020.

While there’s growing acceptance for adult use of the drug, and some see it as a potential source of money to boost spending on public schools, state lawmakers appear not quite ready to legalize the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes.

Maryland legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 2014, and there are now 16 growers, 18 processors and 85 dispensaries operating statewide. Dumais and work group co-chair Sen. Bill Ferguson said members say they still have many more issues to resolve before moving forward on legalization governing recreational use.

“It seems like every time we get some information to answer one question, it just begets another three or four questions,” said Dumais, a Montgomery County Democrat.

The work group has been meeting for the past several months to investigate marijuana-related issues. Some members took a research trip to Colorado, where recreational use has been legal since 2014. [Read more at Baltimore Sun]