Maryland Governor Wes Moore has enacted a landmark mass pardon, forgiving 175,000 low-level marijuana convictions spanning multiple decades.
The move, deemed “the most sweeping state-level pardon” in American history, aims to address significant social and economic injustices disproportionately affecting Black residents.
Governor Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, stated that this initiative seeks to rectify the “decades of harm” caused by drug policies that unfairly targeted African Americans, limiting their access to housing, education, and employment opportunities.
Nearly half of all state drug arrests during the early 2000s were related to cannabis, with Black individuals being three times more likely to face cannabis-related charges than their white counterparts despite constituting 33% of the state’s population.
Governor Moore emphasized that more than 70% of Maryland’s male incarcerated population is Black, highlighting the disproportionate impact of previous drug laws on African Americans.
The governor signed the pardons into law in Annapolis, marking a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to correct past injustices and promote equity.
This pardon, affecting around 100,000 people, represents a significant executive action aimed at eliminating criminal justice inequities, significantly as more states across the country ease marijuana laws.
Following a state-wide referendum, Maryland legalized cannabis for adults, and retail sales began in 2023, setting the stage for this sweeping pardon.
The pardons cover individuals with misdemeanour convictions for possession of marijuana or paraphernalia, providing a fresh start for many who have been affected by these convictions.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown emphasized the systemic bias in drug-related arrests and sentencing, likening cannabis convictions to “modern-day shackles.”
He praised the governor’s action as a critical step towards dismantling these injustices and providing long-overdue relief to those disproportionately affected.
Although the pardons will not result in any immediate releases from jail, the initiative has been lauded by criminal justice reform advocates who see it as a vital step towards justice.
Jason Ortiz, director of strategic initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project, shared his personal experience of being arrested at 16 for cannabis possession and praised the governor’s action as a monumental day in cannabis justice history.
Heather Warnken, executive director at the Center for Criminal Justice Reform at the University of Baltimore Law School, described the mass pardon as a “win for thousands of Marylanders getting a fresh start.”
She also emphasized that this move represents a boost to the justice system’s legitimacy, helping restore faith in its fairness.
Warnken acknowledged that while there is still much work to be done, this initiative represents a significant first step towards justice and dignity for affected individuals.
The governor’s office noted that the pardons are part of a broader effort to address systemic inequities and promote fairness in the state’s criminal justice system.
As more states nationwide continue to ease marijuana laws, Maryland’s historic pardon sets a precedent for addressing the long-term impacts of previous drug policies on marginalized communities.
