Washington, D.C. — Today, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced that he will issue a mass pardon for more than 175,000 low-level marijuana convictions. In response, Akua Amaning, director for Criminal Justice Reform at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The pardons issued today by Gov. Wes Moore signify one of the largest acts of clemency related to marijuana the United States has witnessed to date. This announcement addresses devastating impacts of America’s war on drugs and provides real second chances for justice-involved Marylanders. For far too long, individuals–disproportionately people of color–have endured the collateral consequences that stem from even a minor marijuana conviction, despite its recreational use now being legal in 24 states, including Maryland, and Washington, D.C. These pardons not only help an estimated 100,000 people overcome the barriers imposed by their conviction record—such as barriers to employment, housing, or education opportunities—but also signify to the rest of the nation the need to legalize cannabis at the federal level and end the harms inflicted by marijuana criminalization.
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