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Maryland lawmakers could consider the possibility of legalizing marijuana as soon as 2020.
Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch announced on Tuesday that they are creating a Cannabis Workgroup to study the issues related to a potential legalization program.
The appointed group will report on their findings by December 31, 2019, in time for the 2020 legislative session, according to a statement released by Miller and Busch.
“With our sister states moving to legalization, it is time for the General Assembly to take an in-depth look at this issue,” Miller said.
D.C. and 33 states have already legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, in some cases for both. Maryland’s medical marijuana program went into effect in late 2017, administered by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission.
State Sen. Bobby Zirkin, chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, and House Majority Leader Kathleen Dumais will be co-chairs.
“Over the past several years, we have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, implemented a medical marijuana program and reduced jail sentences for nonviolent drug offenders,” Busch said. “With many states exploring legalizing marijuana use, President Miller and I want to make sure legislators understand all of the complexities of legalization and are prepared if, indeed, we move forward.”
According to the statement released Tuesday, Cannabis Workgroup members will include:
- House Ways & Means Vice Chairman Jay Walker
- House Judiciary Vice Chairman Vanessa Atterbeary
- House Economic Matters Vice Chairman Eric Bromwell
- House Minority Leader Nic Kipke
- House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga
- Delegate David Moon, sponsor of legalization legislation
- Delegate Sandy Rosenberg
- Delegate Nick Mosby
- Senate Budget & Taxation Vice-Chairman Bill Ferguson
- Senate Finance Vice-Chairman Brian J. Feldman
- Senate Minority Whip Stephen S. Hershey, Jr.
- Senator Jill P. Carter
- Senator Melony Griffith
- Senator Douglas J. J. Peters
- Senator Jeff Waldsteicher
- Senator Chris West