Question 4 was a voter referendum to amend the Constitution of Maryland in order to legalize cannabis for adult use in Maryland. The referendum was approved overwhelmingly, with more than twice as many voters voting in favor of it than against it, on November 8, 2022, and will go into effect on July 1, 2023.
Referendum Question 4
Cannabis - Legalization of Adult Use and Possession
On July 16, 2021, the speaker of the state House of Delegates, Adrienne A. Jones, created a committee to draft a referendum on legalization to place before voters in 2022.[1] Around December 25, the chairman of the state House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup, Luke Clippinger, pre-filed House Bill 1 for the 2022 session, to initiate the citizen referendum in 2022 that would create a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis.[2] The referendum bill and accompanying bill implementing legalization, House Bill 837 received public testimony and were discussed by the House Judiciary Committee on February 14, 2022.[3] House Bill 1 was passed by the house 96–34 on February 25.[4][5] This bill was contingent on passage of the ballot referendum in the November 2022 election, whereby it would legalize recreational use of cannabis possession and use on or after July 1, 2023. The constitutional referendum and the legalization bill were both passed by the Maryland Senate on April 1.[6] Senate Finance Committee hearings on the bills began on March 23.[7]
Voters approved the referendum on November 8, 2022 with around 65% of voters in favor. It will fully take effect on July 1, 2023.[8][9][10]
Provisions
The bill provides for adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1+1⁄2 ounces (43 g) of marijuana and decriminalize possession of amounts greater than that up to 2+1⁄2 ounces (71 g). This bill would also establish a Cannabis Business Assistance Fund to support equity initiatives for minority- and women-owned businesses. That fund would go toward incubator and educational programs to promote participation in the industry by people most impacted by criminalization. The bill would also automatically expunge prior criminal convictions for conduct made legal under the proposed law.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Between January 1 and July 1, 2023, possession of up to 1.5 ounces will be a civil infraction subject to $100 fine, as provided by House Bill 837.[10][9]
^Pamela Wood; Bryn Stole (July 16, 2021). "Maryland House speaker supports 2022 vote on marijuana legalization". Baltimore Sun. from the original on July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
^Dan Friedell (December 25, 2021). "Maryland legislature to consider voter referendum on legalizing marijuana for 2022 ballot". WTOP-FM.
^Pamela Wood (February 14, 2022). "Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization". Baltimore Sun.
^A.J. Herrington (February 25, 2022). "Maryland House Advances Cannabis Legalization Bills". High Times.
^Constitutional Amendment - Cannabis - Adult Use and Possession (HB0001) history, Maryland legislature official website, accessed February 25, 2022
^Brian Witte (April 1, 2022). "Maryland voters to decide recreational marijuana in November". Associated Press.
^Bryan P. Sears (March 22, 2022). "Dearth of medical cannabis licenses concerns advocates of pot legalization". Daily Record. Baltimore.
^Andrew DeMillo (November 8, 2022). "Maryland legalizes marijuana; 4 other states also voting". Associated Press.
^ abNicole Potter (November 8, 2022), "Legalization Initiative Passes in Maryland with Question 4", High Times, Maryland data published in October showed that 73% of voters were in favor of legalization—and the results show that this was true for voters.
^ ab"Maryland voters approve legalization of recreational marijuana". Associated Press. November 8, 2022 – via Fox News.
^"Top Maryland Lawmaker Files Marijuana Legalization Bill In Anticipation Of Ballot Referendum Passing". February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"An equitable path to legalizing cannabis in Maryland". February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"Marijuana legalization bill announced by Maryland House leadership". February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"Maryland lawmakers launch new recreational cannabis legalization push". February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"Pair of Md. bills could make marijuana legal by 2023, expunge records of prior convictions". February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization". February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"Maryland Lawmakers Take First Step To Putting Marijuana Legalization On 2022 Ballot With Hearing On Two Bills". February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
^"Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for All State Questions". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
External links
Maryland Question 4, marijuana legalization amendment (2022) at Ballotpedia
Maryland House Bill 1 at Legiscan
May 17, 2023
2022, maryland, question, question, voter, referendum, amend, constitution, maryland, order, legalize, cannabis, adult, maryland, referendum, approved, overwhelmingly, with, more, than, twice, many, voters, voting, favor, than, against, november, 2022, will, i. Question 4 was a voter referendum to amend the Constitution of Maryland in order to legalize cannabis for adult use in Maryland The referendum was approved overwhelmingly with more than twice as many voters voting in favor of it than against it on November 8 2022 and will go into effect on July 1 2023 Referendum Question 4Cannabis Legalization of Adult Use and PossessionResultsChoice Votes Yes 1 302 180 67 20 No 635 580 32 80 Valid votes 1 937 760 100 00 Invalid or blank votes 0 0 00 Total votes 1 937 760 100 00 Yes 70 80 60 70 50 60 No 50 60 Source Maryland State Board of Elections Contents 1 History 2 Provisions 3 Opinion polls 4 Results 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditOn July 16 2021 the speaker of the state House of Delegates Adrienne A Jones created a committee to draft a referendum on legalization to place before voters in 2022 1 Around December 25 the chairman of the state House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup Luke Clippinger pre filed House Bill 1 for the 2022 session to initiate the citizen referendum in 2022 that would create a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis 2 The referendum bill and accompanying bill implementing legalization House Bill 837 received public testimony and were discussed by the House Judiciary Committee on February 14 2022 3 House Bill 1 was passed by the house 96 34 on February 25 4 5 This bill was contingent on passage of the ballot referendum in the November 2022 election whereby it would legalize recreational use of cannabis possession and use on or after July 1 2023 The constitutional referendum and the legalization bill were both passed by the Maryland Senate on April 1 6 Senate Finance Committee hearings on the bills began on March 23 7 Voters approved the referendum on November 8 2022 with around 65 of voters in favor It will fully take effect on July 1 2023 8 9 10 Provisions EditThe bill provides for adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1 1 2 ounces 43 g of marijuana and decriminalize possession of amounts greater than that up to 2 1 2 ounces 71 g This bill would also establish a Cannabis Business Assistance Fund to support equity initiatives for minority and women owned businesses That fund would go toward incubator and educational programs to promote participation in the industry by people most impacted by criminalization The bill would also automatically expunge prior criminal convictions for conduct made legal under the proposed law 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Between January 1 and July 1 2023 possession of up to 1 5 ounces will be a civil infraction subject to 100 fine as provided by House Bill 837 10 9 Opinion polls EditOn Question 4Poll source Date s administered Samplesize a Marginof error Yes No Other UndecidedOpinionWorks October 20 23 2022 989 LV 3 1 63 25 12 University of Maryland September 22 27 2022 810 RV 4 0 73 23 4 Victoria Research A September 11 19 2022 762 RV 3 7 69 20 2 b 8 Goucher College September 8 12 2022 748 LV 3 6 59 34 7 On whether recreational marijuana should be legalPoll source Date s administered Samplesize a Marginof error Yes No Other UndecidedGoucher College March 1 6 2022 635 A 3 9 62 34 1 c 3 Goucher College October 14 20 2021 700 A 3 7 60 33 3 d 4 Gonzales Research D B May 17 22 2021 301 LV e 5 8 69 24 7 f Goucher College February 23 28 2021 725 A 3 6 67 28 1 g 4 Results Edit2022 Maryland Question 4 Choice Votes Yes 1 302 180 67 20No 635 580 32 80Total votes 1 937 760 100 00Source Maryland State Board of Elections 18 See also Edit2022 Maryland elections Cannabis in Maryland List of 2022 United States cannabis reform proposalsNotes Edit a b Key A all adultsRV registered votersLV likely votersV unclear Usually skip Might skip with 2 Refused with 1 Refused with 3 301 likely Democratic primary voters Refused with 7 Refused with 1 Partisan clients This poll was sponsored the Yes on 4 Campaign which supports Question 4 This poll was sponsored by Douglas J J PetersReferences Edit Pamela Wood Bryn Stole July 16 2021 Maryland House speaker supports 2022 vote on marijuana legalization Baltimore Sun Archived from the original on July 17 2021 Retrieved July 17 2021 Dan Friedell December 25 2021 Maryland legislature to consider voter referendum on legalizing marijuana for 2022 ballot WTOP FM Pamela Wood February 14 2022 Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization Baltimore Sun A J Herrington February 25 2022 Maryland House Advances Cannabis Legalization Bills High Times Constitutional Amendment Cannabis Adult Use and Possession HB0001 history Maryland legislature official website accessed February 25 2022 Brian Witte April 1 2022 Maryland voters to decide recreational marijuana in November Associated Press Bryan P Sears March 22 2022 Dearth of medical cannabis licenses concerns advocates of pot legalization Daily Record Baltimore Andrew DeMillo November 8 2022 Maryland legalizes marijuana 4 other states also voting Associated Press a b Nicole Potter November 8 2022 Legalization Initiative Passes in Maryland with Question 4 High Times Maryland data published in October showed that 73 of voters were in favor of legalization and the results show that this was true for voters a b Maryland voters approve legalization of recreational marijuana Associated Press November 8 2022 via Fox News Top Maryland Lawmaker Files Marijuana Legalization Bill In Anticipation Of Ballot Referendum Passing February 3 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 An equitable path to legalizing cannabis in Maryland February 3 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 Marijuana legalization bill announced by Maryland House leadership February 3 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 Maryland lawmakers launch new recreational cannabis legalization push February 4 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 Pair of Md bills could make marijuana legal by 2023 expunge records of prior convictions February 4 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization February 14 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 Maryland Lawmakers Take First Step To Putting Marijuana Legalization On 2022 Ballot With Hearing On Two Bills February 14 2022 Retrieved February 15 2022 Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for All State Questions elections maryland gov Maryland State Board of Elections Retrieved November 28 2022 External links EditMaryland Question 4 marijuana legalization amendment 2022 at Ballotpedia Maryland House Bill 1 at Legiscan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2022 Maryland Question 4 amp oldid 1141888661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
