Maryland governor issues pardons for 175,000 cannabis-related convictions

Wes Moore, governor of Marylandissued pardons to 175,000 marihuana-related convictions on Monday, the largest mass pardon of its kind since recreational cannabis was legalized in the state last year, following similar moves in many US states.

The Democratic leader’s executive order includes more than 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of cannabis and more than 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

Moore, Maryland’s first black governor, said the pardons were designed to address long-standing drug-related inequities in the criminal justice system.

“Marylandians should not continue to face barriers to housing, employment or educational opportunities based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal,” Moore said in a statement.

“This action will also help make significant progress toward addressing the racial wealth gap and will benefit Marylanders across the state and across the economic spectrum,” he added.

The order was timed to coincide with the Juneteenth federal holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the US and draws attention to persistent racial inequities in American society.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, black people are 3.6 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite similar rates of use.

Maryland’s pardons follow a 2022 federal order that pardoned several categories of federal marijuana possession crimes and the Biden administration is pressing to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug ahead of the November presidential election, following a recommendation from the DEA.

Earlier this year, Maura Healey, governor of Massachusetts, also granted a mass pardon to people convicted of simple marijuana possession.

Before issuing pardons in Maryland, Moore told the Washington Post that he was “ecstatic” to have the opportunity to “right many historic wrongs” and said that to be able to create inclusive economic growth, “we must begin to remove these barriers that continue to disproportionately burden communities of color.”