In the past several weeks I’ve talked to Marylanders about how I will close opportunity gaps as their next Governor. From expanding our education system to instituting a living wage, I’m committed to making Annapolis work for us all.
Today, I’m releasing my plan to legalize and regulate marijuana. Not only will we create jobs and revenue, we’ll shine a light on an underground market.
My plan will give our state up to $157.5 million annually in new revenue while saving hundreds of millions of dollars in enforcement costs, correcting our devastatingly biased and ineffective laws and enhance the public safety of our communities.
Legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana will provide Maryland with a dedicated revenue stream to make overdue and critical investments in early childhood education. If we can provide a great start to our children’s education, it’s time we make the investment. The new annual revenue will provide 23,625 children with a full day of prekindergarten.
By legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana we will save money and save people from becoming unnecessarily entangled in the criminal justice system. In 2010, Maryland had the third most marijuana possession arrests proportionally of all states – over 23,000. It’s easy to see that this system is not working. By legalizing marijuana we will save tens of thousands of people from unnecessary run-ins with law enforcement, imprisonment, or worse.
By legalizing marijuana, we allow our law enforcement to focus on serious and dangerous crime. Maryland wastes as much as $281.7 million per year enforcing overly punitive marijuana prohibition laws. The state would reinvest all savings into increased enforcement of violent and serious crime and other criminal justice reforms. Our criminal justice system should keep people safe, treat them fairly, and use limited fiscal resources wisely. Legalizing marijuana is the first step to ensuring that happens.
Add your name to our petition if you agree that it’s time to create new opportunities in Maryland.
You can read more about my plan on my website here.