The US state of Maryland will overturn 175,000 marijuana convictions handed down over the past decades, Governor Wes Moore announced in statements to the Washington Post. Moore, a Democrat and the first black governor of Maryland, declared that he intends to 'rectify a large number of historical errors' by signing this pardon decree.
Approximately 100,000 people, many of whom belong to ethnic minorities, will see convictions for possessing or smoking marijuana—now legal in the state—disappear from their criminal records. According to Moore, many of these individuals are still denied jobs, housing, or access to education due to previous marijuana possession convictions.
Maryland, a state of six million inhabitants on the east coast of the United States, legalized the recreational use and retail sale of marijuana by referendum in 2023. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown stated that the pardon applies to all those convicted for marijuana possession, adding that the measure 'disproportionately affects—in a good way' the black population. This is particularly significant given that black individuals represent 33% of Maryland's population but account for 70% of incarcerated men in the state.
The American Civil Liberties Union noted that a black person was three times more likely than a white person to be arrested for marijuana possession. Derek Liggins, a 57-year-old pardoned individual, shared that his past marijuana conviction from the late 1990s has continued to hinder his job prospects decades after serving his sentence.
- The decision to overturn these convictions reflects a broader national trend towards the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. This movement aims to address systemic inequalities and rectify historical injustices faced by minority communities disproportionately affected by stringent drug laws.
- Observers and civil rights advocates have praised Maryland's move, viewing it as a model for other states grappling with similar issues of racial disparity and criminal justice reform.
