Individuals 21 years old and above and residing in Maryland are now legally allowed to buy, consume, own, and grow small amounts of marijuana.
As of Saturday, adults in Maryland are permitted to use recreational marijuana. The Cannabis Reform Act was signed into law by Democrat Governor Wes Moore in May, following a referendum in November’s election in which Maryland residents voted in favor of recreational cannabis use.
The law permits adults aged 21 and over to purchase, use, possess, and cultivate limited amounts of cannabis. Under the new law, adults can grow up to two plants for personal use and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, which will be taxed at 9%.
Previously, growing cannabis plants led to legal consequences, but this restriction has been lifted. However, the usage of cannabis is limited to private residences, and public smoking is not permitted, according to Maryland Cannabis Administration deputy director Dawn Berkowitz.
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According to Berkowitz, the purchase limit for personal use is the same as the possession limit. This means that individuals can have up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or up to 750 mg of THC.
However, possessing more than 1.5 but less than 2.5 ounces of cannabis may result in civil fines, while possessing more than 2.5 ounces could lead to criminal charges for intent to distribute. The new law will automatically expunge convictions for marijuana-related crimes that are now legal, and those serving time for these offenses may be eligible for resentencing.
If you have been found guilty of possession with the intention to distribute, you can only request to have your record expunged after you have served your sentence and three years have passed. Additionally, the state has approved nearly 100 dispensaries to serve medical cannabis to customers and adult consumers under last year’s ballot measure.
More and more Americans are using cannabis, including in Maryland, where around 6 million people will be expected to join the trend. This creates a big business opportunity.
The Maryland Cannabis Administration has approved 42 cultivators and manufacturers to provide legal and tested cannabis to adults from July 1. The acting director, Will Tilburg, stressed the need to be informed about the new law and to consume cannabis safely and responsibly.
