Maryland legislature to consider voter referendum on legalizing marijuana for 2022 ballot

The Maryland legislature is moving toward placing a voter referendum on legalizing marijuana on ballots in 2022.

Text of the proposed legislation was written by Del. Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City), who is chairman of Maryland’s House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup, formed last summer to study the issue.

The House bill to place the question on next year’s ballot, House Bill 1, has been pre-filed and will be introduced when the Maryland General Assembly convenes on Jan. 12, 2022.

If passed by the legislature, the bill will set up the following referendum question for voters:

“Do you favor the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Maryland?”

If the referendum is successful, Maryland’s legislature would add an amendment to the state constitution and advance a law allowing Maryland adults over the age of 21 to use and possess cannabis.

As written, that law that would go into effect as early as July 2023.

In order for the question to make it to the ballot, it will need to be approved by three-fifths of members in both the House and Senate.

If the bill passes, Maryland’s legislature would still need to develop rules on the “use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state.” [Read more at WTOP]