Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore, will issue a mass pardon for 175,000 low-level marijuana convictions, according to US media reports on Sunday. The Washington Post highlighted this as one of the country’s most extensive clemency actions, aimed at addressing social and economic injustices disproportionately affecting Black people. The pardons, affecting around 100,000 individuals, are set to be implemented early Monday.
Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, emphasized the importance of correcting historical wrongs and described the action as the most aggressive nationwide effort to erase criminal justice inequities. Maryland legalized cannabis for adults and retail sales in 2023, following a state-wide referendum.
“If you want to create inclusive economic growth, you have to remove barriers that disproportionately affect communities of color,” Moore told the Post, noting that criminal records hinder access to employment, education, and housing long after sentences are served.
Attorney General Anthony Brown stated that the pardons will cover misdemeanor convictions for marijuana possession or paraphernalia, significantly benefiting Black and Brown Marylanders. Despite comprising 33% of the state’s population, Black individuals represent over 70% of Maryland’s male incarcerated population. The ACLU reports that Black people are more than three times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession compared to white people.
