Has Maryland quietly become America’s most universally successful adult-use market
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Obviously, with just over a year in the books, it’s too early to confidently say one way or another.
But, while the rest of the weed world, (including us) has been focused the broken promises and failures of California, the predictible yet inevitible misteps of New York, and the manufactured angst toward legalization in nearly every red state you can think of, behind the leadership of Governor Wes Moore, Maryland cannabis has been putting up NUMBERS.
This July, exactly one year after signing Maryland adult-use into law, Moore’s office boasted over $1.1B in sales- with rec racking up $700M and medical pulling in $400.
Stark contrast to New York, Maryland’s neighbor to the north, which reported last week that it had reached $654 million in nearly 2 years of operating, dispite having more than 3 times maryland’s population.
Governor Moore also announced at the onset that the old line state’s programming would be built upon a DEI focused framework… and it’s been working.
in addition to Administering the first business licensing round in the nation reserved exclusively for social equity applicants, the Moore administration rattled off a few more socialistic equity-approved stats during its July victory lap sure to make Jason Beck’s blood boil…
Of the 205 selected applicants, 53.7% self-reported majority black or African American ownership, and 76.2% self-reported majority minority ownership; these businesses will more than double the number of licensed cannabis businesses operating in the state.
Collecting more than $40 million in fees from licensed cannabis businesses to support the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, which provides funding directly to local jurisdictions to support community-based initiatives that benefit low-income communities and communities that were disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.
In partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor, establishing a first-in-the-nation Cannabis Workforce Development Program, which will prioritize training individuals with a history of cannabis-related offenses.
And for Maryland cannabis’ next act, it’s looking to take things a step further with REPARATIONS.
That’s right y’all, Baltimore voters will decide on Nov. 5 whether to establish a city fund to compensate communities disproportionately impacted by arrests and prosecutions under Maryland's former anti-cannabis laws.
The fund, financed by state taxes on recreational marijuana, would be created through a ballot initiative known as Question G.
Baltimore is expected to receive the largest share of state money, due to its high percentage of cannabis-related prosecutions.
The fund is part of Maryland's broader Community Repair and Reinvestment Fund - the second flex I listed earlier, for those who may have forgotten.. supported by a 9% tax on recreational marijuana sales.
Local legislation already passed to establish an independent commission to oversee the distribution of the funds in Baltimore.
However, concerns have been raised about the city’s responsibility once state funding ends in 2033.
Despite opposition, officials expect the amendment to pass, ensuring funds are directed to communities most affected by the "war on drugs."
Now anybody who watches the show, has heard my public comments anywhere, or knows me personally, knows that I’m more in favor of reparations than social equity ANY DAY.
But in Maryland’s case, the state’s competent leadership (so far) has produced what looks like the start of a VERY successful marketplace built upon affirmative action and DEI principles…
You know, basically what social equity is supposed to be all about.
And low and behold… social equity is about to fund the state’s first round of repartations in Baltimore.
This is Stringer Bell’s worst nightmare come true.
shout out to all The Wire fans who know what I’m talkin about…
But, what do y’all think?
Will Maryland’s adult use market be able to keep its win streak alive?
Will Baltimore reparations program become a successful model for others to emulate?
I’m Rico Lamitte, the Dopest Dad On The Street, for High at 9 News.
Let’s talk about it!
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