Maryland Marijuana Legalization Campaign Targets Young Voters In New Ad To Boost Election Turnout

Maryland’s marijuana legalization campaign released a new ad on Wednesday encouraging young people to participate in early voting, or head to the polls on Election Day next week, to approve the cannabis referendum that’s on the ballot.

The Yes on 4 campaign said that the 15-second digital ad is meant to educate more young voters about the fact that legalization is up for consideration, which could spur increased turnout based on the findings of a recent poll that activists commissioned.

“Maryland, we’re finally getting the chance to legalize cannabis for adults over 21,” the ad says. “This November. Our state will create new good paying jobs and generate millions of tax dollars and build a safer, more equitable future. So this November, let’s vote ‘yes’ on Question 4.”

Hey #Maryland: you don’t have to wait for election day to vote #YesOn4 to legalize adult-use cannabis. You can #vote early today! pic.twitter.com/qUOwZOOLOU

— MDCAN 22 – Yes on 4! (@YesOnMD4) November 2, 2022

While the ad itself doesn’t make an appeal to any specific demographic, Yes on 4 Campaign Chairman Eugene Monroe, a former NFL player, said in a press release on Thursday that polling “shows young Marylanders are far more likely to vote when they learn about Question 4.”

“These new digital ads are designed to reach voters who might otherwise not be aware that marijuana legalization is on their ballot,” he said. “Our campaign is working hard to build a broad coalition of voters who know Question 4 will bring jobs and justice to Maryland.”

According to the campaign’s internal poll that was released last month, people under 40 and Black Marylanders were among the most likely to say that they’d be more inclined to vote knowing that legalization is on the ballot, at 64 and 48 percent, respectively.

Of the five states voting on major drug policy reform issues during this midterm election, Maryland is generally considered the most likely to pass, with multiple surveys signaling success and other states in the region already having enacted legalization.

The referendum question itself is straightforward. Voters will be asked: “Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1st, 2023, in the state of Maryland?”

A poll released last month found that about three in four Maryland voters support legalizing marijuana, including a majority of Republicans. One week out from the election, a separate survey also showed most GOP voters in favor of the proposal.

If the measure is approved by voters, it would trigger the implementation of a complementary bill that would set basic regulations for the adult-use cannabis program.

Del. Luke Clippinger (D) sponsored both the bill that placed the referendum on the ballot as well as the implementation legislation, which Gov. Larry Hogan (R) let take effect without his signature. The delegate also serves as the chair of a legislative marijuana workgroup that’s been meeting to better understand the issue and explore regulatory options and concerns.

That group—which was formed last year by House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D)—has looked at the issue from a wide range of perspectives, exploring topics like regulatory authority, licensing and equity for those who’ve been disproportionately harmed by the drug war.

For his part, Maryland House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke (D), who is also a member of the legislative workgroup, said last month that he will be voting in favor of legalization at the ballot, but he added that the vote is “the beginning of the conversation.”

While the referendum is simple, the complementary bill that would take effect upon approval, HB 837, is more nuanced.

Under that legislation, the purchase and possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis would be legal for adults. The legislation also would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 2.5 ounces. Adults 21 and older would be allowed to grow up to two plants for personal use and gift cannabis without remuneration.

Past convictions for conduct made legal under the proposed law would be automatically expunged, and people currently serving time for such offenses would be eligible for resentencing. The legislation makes it so people with convictions for possession with intent to distribute could petition the courts for expungement three years after serving out their time.

The legalization bill was amended throughout the legislative process. For example, language was attached to create a community reinvestment fund and allow state tax deductions for certain cannabis-related expenses that marijuana businesses are barred from claiming under current federal tax code.

—Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—

If voters pass the referendum question, the reform wouldn’t take effect immediately. Possession of small amounts of cannabis would become a civil offense on January 1, 2023, punishable by a $100 fine for up to 1.5 ounces, or $250 for more than 1.5 ounces and up to 2.5 ounces. Legalization for up to 1.5 ounces wouldn’t kick in for another six months.

Advocates have taken issue with that protracted timeline. Having possession legalization take effect sooner was among several asks they made that were not incorporated into the legislation. They also wanted lawmakers to include a provision preventing police from using the odor of marijuana alone as the basis for a search.

Adult-use legalization began to advance through Maryland’s legislature in the 2021 session, but no votes were ultimately held. The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing last year on a legalization bill, which followed a House Judiciary Committee hearing on a separate cannabis proposal.

Maryland legalized medical cannabis through an act of the legislature in 2012. Two years later, a decriminalization law took effect that replaced criminal penalties for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana with a civil fine of $100 to $500.

Meanwhile, the governor separately allowed a bill to create a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury to take effect without his signature this year.

Marijuana Companies And New Jersey Governor Team Up To Urge Consumers To ‘Buy Legal’

Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.