Maryland Governor Issues 7,000 More Cannabis Pardons and Dedicates $400 Million to Communities Hit Hardest by Inequity
The move to pardon 6,938 additional cannabis offenses continues his administration’s efforts to reverse decades of racially biased enforcement and clear lingering criminal records that have limited opportunities for thousands of Marylanders.
Alongside the new round of pardons, Moore announced that the state will allocate $400 million in cannabis tax revenue to uplift communities disproportionately affected by systemic discrimination and past drug war policies. The money will support local initiatives aimed at improving education, health care access, economic development, and violence prevention in historically underserved areas. “These pardons are about equity. They’re about cleaning the slate for people who’ve been unfairly held back and investing directly into the communities that have been over-policed and underfunded,” Moore said Wednesday.
Maryland legalized cannabis for adult use following a 2022 voter-approved referendum, with licensed retail sales beginning in 2023. Since then, the Moore administration has positioned itself as a national leader in cannabis justice reform.
The original round of pardons in 2024 applied to over 175,000 convictions for low-level cannabis possession and paraphernalia charges. Moore at the time called it “the most extensive and assertive” clemency action in the nation and framed it as a necessary step toward building more inclusive economic growth.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown emphasized that these measures overwhelmingly benefit Black and Brown Marylanders, who were disproportionately targeted under previous cannabis enforcement laws.
The $400 million reinvestment plan will be funded through cannabis sales tax revenue and will be rolled out over the coming years. According to Moore’s office, the funds will prioritize programs selected by local leaders and residents in affected communities, with the goal of driving sustainable, community-led change.