Mass Pardon to Address Racial Disparities and Coincide with Juneteenth
Governor Wes Moore of Maryland announced plans to issue a mass pardon for 175,000 low-level marijuana convictions, according to an interview published Sunday in the Washington Post. The move is intended to coincide with Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
Governor Moore’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the specifics of the pardon.
Righting Historical Wrongs
The Governor highlighted the racial disparities in marijuana arrests, citing research from the American Civil Liberties Union showing Black Americans are arrested for marijuana offenses at a rate more than three times higher than white Americans. These convictions, Moore argued, have lasting negative consequences, creating barriers to housing, employment, and education long after sentences are served.
“I’m ecstatic that we have a real opportunity with what I’m signing to right a lot of historical wrongs,” Moore told the Post.
Following National Trend
Maryland’s move follows similar actions by other states. Massachusetts recently enacted a mass pardon for marijuana convictions, and President Biden has issued pardons for federal drug offenses and taken steps to lessen marijuana’s classification as a serious crime at the federal level.
Shifting Legal Landscape
While marijuana possession remains illegal under federal law, the legal landscape at the state level is rapidly changing. Twenty-four states and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana use, while 38 states and Washington D.C. allow medical marijuana use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
