Maryland Senate Passes Medical Cannabis Proposal

Maryland Senate Passes Medical Cannabis Proposal

In an overwhelming 45 to 1 vote, Maryland’s Senate has approved an amended version of House Bill 1321, a proposal to explicitly legalize medical cannabis, including medical cannabis dispensaries. The measure has already passed the state’s House of Representatives.

If approved into law, House Bill 1321 would legalize the possession and use of cannabis for medical purposes for those with a qualifying condition (cancer, chronic pain, etc.) who receive a recommendation from a physician. State-licensed cultivators and dispensaries would also be legalized. Under the amended version the Senate passed, there would be no limit on the number of cultivators in the state, and there would be a minimum of 94 dispensaries; the original House version would have set a limit on both (including just 10 growers).

The bill will now likely go to a conference committee where the differences between the two versions can be worked out. If an agreement is reached that appeases both the House and Senate, which is expected, the proposal will go to the governor for consideration.

– TheJointBlog