HB 837

Enacted

Cannabis Reform

Sponsor: Luke Clippinger (District 46)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - Substantive CrimesStatus: Enacted under Article II, Section 17(b) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 26 (as of Nov 15, 2022)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission, in consultation with certain stakeholders, to conduct a baseline study of cannabis use in the State by March 1, 2023; altering certain provisions relating to penalties, charging procedures, expungement, shielding, and sentencing for certain offenses involving cannabis; legalizing the use and possession of a certain quantity of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years old; establishing the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council and a Cannabis Public Health Fund; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (63)

MGA witness list

FAV 10FavorableFWA 29Favorable with amendmentsUNF 14UnfavorableINFO 10Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Henderson, Richard	Drug Free Baltimore Coalition C/O National African African American Drug Policy Coalition	Oral
FAV	Goldberg, Dylan	House Judiciary Committee	Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown, Anthony G.	House of Representatives	Oral
FAV	Pica, Johnlobbyist	Pica & Associates, LLC	Oral
FAV	Curran O'Malley, Catherinelobbyist	Retired Judge	Oral
FAV	Brock-Cancellieri, Jen	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Clippinger, Delegate Clippingerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Clippinger, Delegate Clippingerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Law, Jonathan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Reichert-Price, Sarah	Allegany County Republican Women's Club	Written (PDF)
UNF	Grandpre, Lawrence	Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle	Oral
UNF	Love, Dayvon	Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle	Oral
UNF	Elalamy, Sara	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
UNF	Davidson, Jordan	Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM, Inc.)	Oral
UNF	Niforatos, Luke	Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM, Inc.)	Oral
UNF	Amanuel, Yanetlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Amanuel, Yanetlobbyist	Individual	Oral
UNF	Carr, Warren (Rusty)	Individual	Position only
UNF	Ennis, Ella	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Turnbull, Bruce	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Turnbull, Bruce	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	mcavoy, vince	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	mcavoy, vince	Individual	Oral
FWA	Jackson Bowen, Darlene	Building Mosaic Solutions, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FWA	Morton, Lapides	KARE	Oral
FWA	Novello, Laura	MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER	Oral
FWA	Bryce, Joe	Manis Canning and Associates	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Bryce, Joe	Manis Canning and Associates	Written (PDF)
FWA	Naugle, Olivialobbyist	Marijuana Policy Project	Written (PDF)
FWA	Naugle, Olivialobbyist	Marijuana Policy Project	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Tilburg, Williamlobbyist	Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission	Oral
FWA	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
FWA	Quinton, Sylvia	Maryland Prevention Works Collaborative	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Eck, Raimee	Maryland Public Health Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Eck, Raimee	Maryland Public Health Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
FWA	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
FWA	Elrich, Marc	Montgomery County Government	Written (PDF)
FWA	James, Jax	National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)	Written (PDF)
FWA	Abrams, Michael	Public Justice Center	Written (PDF)
FWA	Paylor, Perry	State's Attorney's Office for Prince George's County	Oral
FWA	Meyer, Avery	Students for Sensible Drug Policy of Johns Hopkins University	Written (PDF)
FWA	Mock, Kaylalobbyist	UFCW 400	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Hack, Jessica	UFCW Local 27	Written (PDF)
FWA	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Bagwell, Ashlielobbyist	Individual	Oral
FWA	Gorelick, David	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Graham, Erik	Individual	Oral
FWA	Hoke, Kathleen	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Maryland, State of	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Mitchell, Martin	Individual	Oral
INFO	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network	Written (PDF)
INFO	Smith, Aliayah	Berlin Prevention Works Coalition for Alcohol and Drug Free Communities	Oral
INFO	Hudak, John	Brookings Institute	Oral
INFO	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Adams, MD, Joseph	Maryland-DC Society of Addiction Medicine	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Rosen-Cohen, Nancy	NCADD-Maryland	Written (PDF)
INFO	Rosen-Cohen, Nancy	NCADD-Maryland	Written (PDF)

Showing 60 of 63

Organizations on record

Allegany County Republican Women's ClubUNF 1

American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkINFO 1

Berlin Prevention Works Coalition for Alcohol and Drug Free CommunitiesINFO 1

Brookings InstituteINFO 1

Building Mosaic Solutions, Inc.FWA 1

Drug Free Baltimore Coalition C/O National African African American Drug Policy CoalitionFAV 1

House Judiciary CommitteeFAV 1

House of RepresentativesFAV 1

KAREFWA 1

Leaders of a Beautiful StruggleUNF 2

Manis Canning and AssociatesFWA 2

Marijuana Policy ProjectFWA 2

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)INFO 1

Maryland JudiciaryUNF 1

Maryland Medical Cannabis CommissionFWA 1

Maryland NonprofitsFWA 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFWA 1

MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERFWA 1

Maryland Prevention Works CollaborativeFWA 1

Maryland Public Health AssociationFWA 2

Maryland State and DC AFL-CIOFWA 2

Maryland-DC Society of Addiction MedicineINFO 1

Montgomery County GovernmentFWA 1

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)FWA 1

NCADD-MarylandINFO 2

Pica & Associates, LLCFAV 1

Public Justice CenterFWA 1

Retired JudgeFAV 1

RWLINFO 1

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM, Inc.)UNF 2

State's Attorney's Office for Prince George's CountyFWA 1

Students for Sensible Drug Policy of Johns Hopkins UniversityFWA 1

UFCW 400FWA 1

UFCW Local 27FWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPica, JohnPica & Associates, LLCRegistered for: Allied Universal; Automated Health Systems; Benelli USA c/o Pica & Associates, LLC; Beretta USA; Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Inc.; Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company…

FAVCurran O'Malley, CatherineRetired JudgeRegistered for: Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.

UNFAmanuel, YanetRegistered for: ACLU of Maryland

FWANaugle, OliviaMarijuana Policy ProjectRegistered for: Marijuana Policy Project

FWATilburg, WilliamMaryland Medical Cannabis CommissionRegistered for: University of Maryland Medical System

FWABogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

FWAMock, KaylaUFCW 400Registered for: United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 400

FWABagwell, AshlieRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Atmosphere Data Centers LLC; Baltimore Civic Fund, Inc.; Beltway Fine Wine…

INFOCollins, JocelynAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Bard College; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; HealthCare Access Maryland…

INFORifkin, BradRWLRegistered for: 1/ST Racing MD LLC; ASC Engineered Solutions; Baltimore Banner, The; Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&S, LLC; Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, MD; Brewers Association of Maryland…

INFOCasper, AleksRegistered for: American Lung Association

Journey

Feb 3First reading in the HouseAssigned to Judiciary
Feb 14Judiciary hearingMon, Feb 14, 10:00 AM
Feb 21Committee report: Favorable with Amendments
Feb 23Second reading (House): Passed with Amendments
Feb 25Third reading (House): Passed
Feb 20First reading in the SenateAssigned to Finance
Mar 23Finance hearing (Senate)Wed, Mar 23, 1:00 PM
Mar 31Committee report (Senate): Favorable with Amendments
Mar 20Second reading (Senate): Passed with Amendments
Mar 21Third reading (Senate): Passed with Amendments
Mar 21Concurred
Mar 21Enacted as Chapter 26Signing date is not in the MGA feed

Documents

Same bill, other years

2023 HB 556Enacted
2023 SB 516Enacted

Matched by title. Attempt 3 of this idea.