Now that his state has legalized recreational marijuana use, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has issued a sweeping pardon for 150,000 Marylanders previously convicted for cannabis possession, and another 18,000 for possession with the intent to use drug paraphernalia.
Most of those cases are misdemeanors and the number could grow, although for now, no one’s getting out of jail from the pardons. It’s just about wiping records clean.
Moore said, “We cannot celebrate the benefits of legalization if we do not address the consequences of criminalization.”
The pardons, of course, apply to all ethnic groups, but as NPR notes, research has shown that black people are far more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites, even though they use at about the same rates.
As such, Moore emphasizes that the move isn’t just what, to most, seems rather obvious (absolving those convicted for something now legal), but a systemic racial injustice.
NPR:
“If you look at the past, you see how policies have been intentionally deployed to hold back entire communities,” Moore said. “We’re talking about tools that have led to the mass incarceration of Black men and boys.”
Past drug policies, he said, contributed to minorities having less access to jobs, housing and education opportunities — and it also helps explain Maryland’s wide racial wealth gap, the governor added.
“To undo that kind of intentionality, we need to apply intentionality of our own,” Moore said.
Moore has picked up considerable buzz as a likely (and potentially very strong) 2028 contender.
The Daily Beast’s Ernest Owens has a great look at his appeal (his bio holds mass appeal for a general election: combat veteran*, business owner, Rhodes Scholar) and his policy agenda – which looks like it could resonate with parts of the Democratic coalition that have been drifting away, as the party has shifted towards a perception of cultural elitism.
Moore is shaping up to be a consensus figure among liberals given his blend of practical policy (such as raising the minimum wage, increasing tax credits for immigrants and childcare, and boosting state spending on education and transportation without raising taxes) and charm.
As Steny Hoyer said at a press conference, “I saw this young man – and I’ve been in politics for 120 years – “I said, ‘This guy’s got it’.”
Oh, and he gets along with people from across political stripes. Here he is downing shots with Ravens fans (this group doesn’t look like the Ivy League set).
Gov. Wes Moore shotgunning a beer with Ravens tailgaters pic.twitter.com/oETs6I8yKI
— Baltimore Banner Sports (@AllBannerSports) January 28, 2024