Maryland's leader seeks mass pardon for approximately 100,000 individuals.
Job and housing prospects can be tougher for those with past convictions, including those related to marijuana. In Maryland, the legalization of marijuana occurred last year. It's been speculated that the governor of Maryland, a US state, intends to grant pardons to over 100,000 individuals convicted of marijuana possession or use in the past years. As reported by the "Washington Post," Democratic Governor Wes Moore, the state's first black governor, aims to rectify numerous past injustices with the signing of this decree. Since a 2023 referendum, recreational marijuana use has been legal in this eastern coastal state.
Moore believes that many people are still being unfairly treated in their job and housing searches due to past marijuana-related convictions. A significant number of these affected individuals appear to be minorities. Maryland's Attorney General, Anthony Brown, stated that the annulment of these convictions would have a "disproportionately, but favorable," impact on the black community.
Although only 33% of Maryland's six million residents are Black, the "Washington Post" indicates that the proportion of male inmates in the state is over 70%. As stated by the civil liberties organization American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Blacks are over thrice as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession compared to Whites.
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Individuals with past marijuana convictions in Maryland may find job and housing prospects more challenging due to their records. As reported, Governor Wes Moore, the state's first black governor, is contemplating granting pardons to around 100,000 people who were convicted of marijuana possession or use in the past, aiming to address these disparities, especially in the Black community, where statistics show a disproportionate number of arrests for marijuana possession compared to Whites.
