Ahead of Juneteenth, Maryland Pardons 175K Pot Convictions

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We host a roundtable conversation on Maryland Governor Wes Moore's historic pardons of 175,000 marijuana-related convictions in the state, including drug paraphernalia-related convictions. Jheanelle Wilkins is the chair of Maryland's Legislative Black Caucus; Maritza Perez Medina is the director of federal affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance; and Jason Ortiz, who was himself arrested at the age of 16 for cannabis possession, is director of strategic initiatives at the Last Prisoner Project. "It's incumbent upon us to make sure we take action to repair the harms" of the war on drugs, says Wilkins. Maryland legalized the use of recreational marijuana in 2022, but the mass pardons provide historic relief for those who faced criminal consequences while the drug was illegal. Moore says he timed the pardons for the week of Juneteenth, the federal holiday on June 19 to mark the end of slavery in the United States - a symbolic move that underlines the disproportionate impact of drug criminalization on Black communities. Our guests call on other states and the federal government to follow Maryland's example, as we also discuss the Biden administration's recent descheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug. "This needs to go further," says Medina. "We want to make sure we're also focusing on community investment and retroactive relief," adds Ortiz.
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[@carolhaddox7774]

The state needs to return the fees and penalties too. This was never right.

[@mamabear3217]

Never

[@y_chelle]

We will get more of this if we keep voting "in mass" blue. We need to get people "off the couch".

[@5699CAR]

​@y_chelle lmao, yeah okay.

[@logicalcritik2144]

​@@y_chellethe couch gonna win boo! 😂😂...to hell with blue

[@rashidbelike1082]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@herahagstoz6934]

Freeing people, giving them a clean slate and making sure they aren’t left out on their own after deep hardship is always a good look. Wonderful work from this Governor. Way to go Maryland for heading in the right direction and telling a more accurate story.

[@lalapo5304]

Freeing? From what? No ones getting "freed".

[@xanboy8490]

Every governor in this country should do the same but they won't..

[@johnmartinezm]

No one is getting released. All this is ,is political Propaganda for the democrats

[@fonda7760]

Thank you. You are correct. It’s economics and $$$$$$, free labor, medical testing, organ harvesting to name a few! I am grateful Marilyn and the Black Caucus are taking steps towards allowing our communities to move forward one step at a time.

[@donnieking7315]

Read the bill and stop listening at what they are saying. The bill is strash.

[@noentropyjames1283]

A small glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal world.

[@saad4447]

"Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich." (Peter Ustinov, 2003

[@dianecrowder4971]

Pardon them, expunged their records, and returned any bonds and fines to the individual as well as an apology!🙄😡😤🤬🤷🏾‍♀️😎

[@themanwnoname3454]

America: We’ve been stupid so long we don’t know how to be smart.

[@warrinbang1191]

The problem is the lifetime disenfranchisement of many people due to a criminal conviction decades ago. Expungements should be automatically granted by law after a prescribed period of time.

[@mojoe3012]

I disagree 😤.

[@warrinbang1191]

@@mojoe3012 Naturalized citizens come to America and get a clean slate once they get a brand new social security card. Their past is completely buried in another country. They get a second chance and access to the American dream. Why deny the same to Americans who were born in America and whose ancestry built this country. Moreover with the extensive use of plea bargains and no contest pleas many innocent people are wrongfully convicted.

[@47shadows76]

Look up Senate Bill 1030 in Maryland - "Good Cause" Expungement. Black Caucus supported it, but it didn't pass.

[@JePe-on4ff]

​@@mojoe3012go cry

[@wildyam474]

It's interesting that this doesn't help the people currently incarcerated for these crimes. It ironically reminds me of the history of Juneteenth itself.

[@eltorocal]

You have the comprehension skills of a 4th grader, and the attention span of a gnat.

[@MaLiArtworks186]

Set them free! This doesn't make sense!

[@angelakey5317]

Set them free!!!!!

[@greendesertgoddess]

Something about it all isn't right . . .

[@DrAntoinetteLloydMD]

This is Wonderful!!!!Congratulations Governor Moore and Congratulations Maryland! This is a good start. Apparently all these pardons is not helping anyone currently in jail for cannabis. So I hope that will be the next step. But this is great news for 175 Thousand People and More! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@MaLiArtworks186]

Who is it helping?

[@johnmartinezm]

@@MaLiArtworks186no one. It’s all political propaganda. Democrats have destroyed this country. I’m sick of their lies. They enrich themselves. I can’t believe I fell for this my whole life.

[@greendesertgoddess]

Some of whom are dead! How does that help anybody?

[@melissaseeley4244]

WOW!! 175K! Decades of harm!

[@mik3ymomo]

Just follow the law?

[@eltorocal]

Reagan's WAR on Drugs... a waste of Billion$ in Tax Payers $$... and even worse, a Waste of lives and Families. Thanks a lot Reich-Wingnuts.

[@afghanica]

@@mik3ymomo just follow the bot master kukks orders?

[@mik3ymomo]

@@afghanica maybe another country would suit you better. Seems like a lot of anarchy in Africa. That might suit you.

[@mik3ymomo]

@@afghanica yeah that’s how it works unless you enjoy prison. Free room, 3 meals a day and you can lift weights and play basketball all day. Maybe that’s the problem; it’s too nice. It’s like camp for anarchists.

[@lovely-mk4rt]

I support this young governor and believe nationwide changes could be made by this first step

[@gloriasmith1074]

Great leadership on this Governor’s part. So many lives ruined! May he be blessed for his courage to loose the bonds on so many of our people.

[@NX4.6GT315]

We need the felony convictions taken care of....... Jobs dont care about misdemeanors.

[@gabbycarter965]

Most jobs don't. But there are some, where you need to have a squeaky clean record.

[@factsnotfeelings3247]

Exactly, this is the kind of piece mean sh*t these Black "leaders" do to blacks around elections, time. The pardon should come with a big check to cover the economic lost the state force upon the victims.These are sh*tty people that insult the intelligence of Blacks.

[@mamabear3217]

They do

[@greendesertgoddess]

Exactly!

[@greenqueen2673]

Finally, a black politician who is doing something to help black people.

[@MaLiArtworks186]

He can help all of us with anti-black crime law.

[@y_chelle]

You need to wake up if you think that. Black politicians have been doing things across the country. Educate yourself.

[@johnmartinezm]

@@y_chellelike what exactly ?

[@y_chelle]

@johnmartinezm Like I said you will have to educate yourself on the black politicians where you live. I can give you one example, but you'll have to do the work of researching for yourself. My Senator has done the following: He assisted with other democrats to get the stimulus checks passed. Warnock is the main sponsor of S.278 - Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act of 2021.[107] The bill would aid historically disaffected minority groups in the agriculture sector.[108] He co-sponsored to raise the minimum wage to $15 He keeps voting for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and For The People Act but Republicans keep filibustering. (Need more Democrats in DC) He's pro-choice and is opposed to the death penalty which affects most black men. (We need more black democrats in the Senate) He obtained funding to help homeless veterans. This affects black men. In November 2021, a bill of Warnock's was enacted that approved a government study into whether there were racial disparities in benefits provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.[144] He voted for the Inflation Reduction Act. This not only helps black people, but all people. He acquired federal funding for 2 new health care centers in Macon and 4 in Albany, GA. (supporting black communities health) He's pro-choice and opposes the death penalty. The death penalty disproportionately affects black men.

[@y_chelle]

@@ethanrobertson3008 Literally Google is free. You have no idea what legislation has been passed that helps the black community because you are politically lazy to do your own research.

[@mobilemworks]

3:00 " .. under the Guise of punishment. Our current Reality of disproportionate arrests and Convictions, are the Residuals of Slavery. The' War On Drugs' was a WAR on communities of color .. " ~ Maryland Attorney General, Anthony Brown

[@mamabear3217]

And so much more that was a call to real action this a small step but great

[@queenmommie100]

Truth 🤬

[@KK-iy7mw]

I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS MAYOR ❤

[@johnmartinezm]

For what ??

[@maestoso47]

Wow, just a small step in undoing the wrong.

[@greendesertgoddess]

. . . very small!

[@armandoromero5661]

why wait until Juneteenth? Why not pardon ASAP?

[@lookitwasnotme225]

Agenda! All Pre-planned

[@johnmartinezm]

No one is being released

[@missevie432]

Should’ve happened as soon as dispensaries started popping up CA is soooooooo behind! Release the prisoners from the prisons today!

[@samwithoutlimits7766]

Will Texas ever do the right thing.....ever, about anything....so sad.

[@GrayYeonWannabe]

unfortunately, not anytime soon. the gerrymandering, other voter disenfranchisement, and political repression is just getting worse. i'm glad i got out in '21. i worry about my friends who are still there

[@eltorocal]

Texas only knows how to do "The Reich Thing".

[@MaLiArtworks186]

At least after parole is finished, in Texas, their rights are restored.

[@y_chelle]

Vote out the MAGA Republicans, then we can start on progress of doing the right thing.

[@aarondigby5054]

Texas shouldn't even be a part of the USA, send they a## back to Mexico, bye Tejas

[@OK-pi6fq]

I don’t understand why it would not overturn convictions for something that is now legal. Like I understand it was a crime at the time so in jail for a crime however, once that is no longer a crime, then they should no longer be in jail for it. If they committed other acts that were criminal with it then theirjail sentences can be altered to as associate to just those acts but if it was just for drugs marijuana, I don’t think I agree with that. However, a step forward is still a step forward.

[@sandal_thong8631]

Usually that's what happens when something becomes legalized. But I think there's a difference between legalized and de-criminalized.

[@greendesertgoddess]

. . . albeit a tiny baby step!

[@jamesmiller8758]

This will save MARYLAND at least 60,000 dollars per inmate per year.

[@aarondigby5054]

IKR, locking ppl up for pot/marijuana charges, it's about time a great black governor is doing something for the harm Jim Crow segregation has caused our ppl

[@greendesertgoddess]

What? Nobody's getting out of prison behind this pardon. A person has to be out already and not incarcerated to benefit from this blanket pardon . . . so it's not what most people think . . . smoke and mirrors and gaslighting is what it is.

[@rundmv6534]

That is one SEXY first african american Maryland DA. That story is RARE to hear from anyone with ambitions in the US since MLK. He needs some charisma but the words were on point

[@burnzism]

This is the legislative equivalent of removing icing from a cake and passing out pieces to all the people at a party.

[@qadeerakhabir5768]

More than nothing

[@electric8668]

The icing was ruining the cake.

[@burnzism]

@@qadeerakhabir5768 If i gave you 5 pennies it would also be better than nothing. But the 5 pennies wouldn't be able to help you. So its equivalent to nothing.

[@dennisreid9039]

This is a good thing.

[@Realminthebush]

About time somebody doing the right thing! The Masters Voice prophecies !!

[@derwinmitchell9947]

It's about time

[@suavio111]

Oh thats so nice of them, when over half of those dismissed convictions were bogus!!!

[@darcyroyce]

Good!

[@herahagstoz6934]

He should have said “With deep pride, soberness and high hopes”

[@philippebourcier846]

About time!!!

[@factsnotfeelings3247]

It DOES NOT help people currently incarcerated for marijuana charges. its bait and switch to trick the public to vote for them around election time.

[@y_chelle]

This is what voting gets us 👏🏾

[@djmikesea]

its insane to think maryland alone actually arrested 175 thousand people for low level marijuana charges.

[@mr_knowitall]

Not just arrested. Convicted!

[@user-qn5jr8ee2l]

The plantation is still alive and well.

[@AngelaShawWestoven]

Pardons... clean slate and they can vote now. 🎉

[@johnmartinezm]

They should vote against the party that put them in jail. Joe Biden crime bill

[@KK-iy7mw]

WHY AREN'T CIGARETTE SMOKERS IMPRISONED?? The evil of the detaining cannabis smokers is just beyond me! Especially the fact that your vice president gleefully admits smoking it, too. Somebody DISTRIBUTED IT TO HER! Cigarette smokers are at more risk, so why aren't the smokers and distributors jailed???

[@JePe-on4ff]

You mean why cigarette smokers and cigarettes sellers..

[@oceantransistor]

This is great but they should pardon all marijuana convictions and criminalize the war on drugs.

[@MaLiArtworks186]

This is what is still unjust!

[@beverlyhimmelhaver5347]

Wonderful! I am a 76yr old lady from Florida who is so proud of the Maryland governor and his staff. Cannabis definitely has great medical value for me and millions of others. Hopefully other governors will follow suit.

[@greendesertgoddess]

Did anyone on this panel say the pardon also includes dead people? Which begs the question "Exactly how many of the pardoned are actually still alive?"

[@greendesertgoddess]

I found that out upon further truth digging!

[@vinniecasqer840]

Our "Left" media has taken a momentary break from Western Asia's daily news business to give us a patronizing nod.

[@josephvalentine7]

I don’t just want my low level marijuana conviction pardon because I did time for it , if all you’re going to do is pardon the conviction then you can just leave my conviction on the books , the damage is already done !

[@greendesertgoddess]

Exactly! Plus, refunds for all those outrageous fees and fines! People just don't get it . . .

[@emiliobello2538]

I’m from Maryland

[@gideo5792]

This is all well and good, the pardons will help a lot of ppl victimized by bad actors using the laws to target disfavored groups. But just like student loan forgiveness, unless you also change the laws that made this problem possible then we will just be back here with a fresh batch of victims in a few years. We need more than an election year stunt, we need to transform this society.

[@y_chelle]

We need people to get off the couch, understand how elections and laws work, and vote every 2 years plus special elections. We have to actively participate in the voting process to get more favorable laws passed.

[@survivormary1126]

My upvote is for Amy. Here I was super excited for so many. Sadly though it's great and progress it'a a far cry from bringing home all the fathers taken from their families over possessing some weed. He needs to grow a bigger pair and not just put his toe in the pool. Pardon all in jail for possession. I don't even smoke but it's utter BS. Over decades I've seen all kinds smoking it up. My x Lawyer boyfriend and ALL his lawyer friends, etc. We know. The Govt is going to be TAXING this yet keeping prisoners for Modern Day Slavery.

[@vanvarner7679]

Awesome 🙏🏾

[@hoteppanafrica2566]

We need to see more of these topics, both that which was discussed and those being announced as up-coming, regularly in this space and others. And we must place as much emphasis on the atrocities against the African Diaspora in the U.S., and those being allowed to persist on the pillaged and plundered continent of Africa, as we do those in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

[@thosethatcan]

GOTTA love em' 🫡☕✍🏽👍🏽⚡🚗🔌

[@unpunishedguilt8052]

Thank you

[@snowytyler3793]

Love Wes Moore! Didn’t know he was the Governor 🎉🎉 only know his story from The Other Wes Moore and also his book Five Days (Freddy Gray story told from many viewpoints). He is brilliant, moral, brave, and so much more than the word “politician” implies . He’s a good man. And this move totally makes sense when you know where he came from. He cares.

[@greendesertgoddess]

Wes Moore is an aipac recipient meaning he has sold his soul! Most Black elected officials are aipac recipients, meaning they are not committed to the interest of their constituents, only to what benefits aipac.

[@mikelmiller1259]

Wes Moore should be the next president!!!!

[@XxxclusiveReviews]

Greated job Maryland

[@hammyhamhamster5993]

Cannabis should be absolutely just as legal and easy to obtain anywhere as alcohol currently is. In every single state. No exceptions. It's so easy: As legal and easy to obtain/use as alcohol currently is. Why hold relatively benign, often healing cannabis to any sort of irrational, stricter double standard than perfectly legal alcohol?

[@allenholliday676]

Good first step governor now let’s go all the way and get these reparations for American descendants of slavery. We all know drugs was a war on Black people.

[@ernestinejohnson6379]

They need to right our reparations & cut a check!

[@y_chelle]

Convince people to get off the couch and vote.

[@adamjam9541]

you aint getting no money from who you need to stop smoking the weed

[@rashidbelike1082]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@rashidbelike1082]

@@y_chelleHave you joined your local ADOS Md Chapter that fights for Reparations?

[@y_chelle]

@rashidbelike1082 I don't live in MD. #1 - Until there is a democrat super majority in the congress/senate to vote MD as a state, MD will continue to have no major voice on the national level. #2 - Until there is a large anount of black people (especially men) in congress/senate, reparations is a lost cause.

[@sometea4741]

The Ontario police chief who spent 30 years busting Canadians is now the 2nd largest shareholder in cannabis distribution.. These parasite pillagers for profit should get NOTHING! The lives ruined..very few blacks in Canada..all the people..color doesn't matter to greedy..all who have simple possession must be compensated by the distributers and profits of cannabis..

[@mbrntly11]

Gov Moore has a Weed Company, this helps his Company, and keep em Stupid

[@rickwalters5066]

It's happening all over the US also most of them are now the big investors

[@Dan.50]

Now have the drug warriors that arrested them pay.

[@rjon591]

No relief for US Military service members what does Federal Affairs say about that

[@MichaelJordan-gj1uo]

Respect.❤

[@markmcbride9039]

What about the ones in jail now

[@greendesertgoddess]

If the crime happened after 1Jan2023, they have to stay.

[@devonthedivinesolarchild9413]

That's why I voted Wes Moore into his state office. 😊👍

[@greendesertgoddess]

He is an aipac recipient!

[@fanarazzou3292]

Really, what took so long? Come on! Will the nation hold the Clinton's to account, a class action suit ?

[@Candy-yk5pg]

They shouldn't have been in there in the first place for marijuana, when all of a sudden, others are given the opportunity to open up stores and sell as they please! ! It's more to the story as to why these people were incarcerated and we all know. I'm not going to give a pat on the back for letting these people go. No way! I'd rather give those people their reparations so they can legally open up marijuana businesses like all of the rest!

[@Realminthebush]

Then make it legal or shut down those stores

[@Realminthebush]

When you go to jail, after you come out your tecord should be cleaned

[@shankeagowdie8782]

one step at a time u know the governor with jamaican roots is gonna get on the weed business

[@reginafefifofina]

17:41 or if you are the recipient of housing assistance, such as Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers

[@hegwoodlonnie9]

Chicago and New York needs to take lessons

[@Marie9kgy]

Yes😊

[@donmacmilly]

Love it came from black man.

[@greendesertgoddess]

Don't mean jack . . . He is an aipac recipient.

[@kingshaw1079]

Should've gave FBAs reparations checks

[@allenholliday676]

Absolutely

[@logicalcritik2144]

So why not release those who are serving time for marijuana charges?

[@Brick_Squared]

Will this affect their ability to enter the now legal cannabis market that is inundated with one group being the overwhelming majority of cannabis business owners?

[@RDMÚSICAAUTORÍADERAFAPARRAAZOR]

Real pride is to keep preventing so many crimes involved with the ilegal condition of some non hard drugs. Good examples are the states that made this one legal. Each adult human have the right and duty to learn to be responsable about taking care about himself in each aspect, including alcohol, tea, coffee or theese plants. Only being legal some of the most demanded drugs can be apart from the routes of killing, creating and managing ilegal money or even making theese drugs more dangerous adding other things to make it more addictive or to make more money without any control.

[@RDMÚSICAAUTORÍADERAFAPARRAAZOR]

By the way... does anyone realized that quite often on internet and news THERE are people that Talk OR WRITTE about "drugs" when, in fact, looks like THEY are talking or writting about human TRAFFIKING or personal data ilegal TRAFFIKING?

[@ruqayyahcurtis7504]

Doesn't pardon anyone currently serving time.

[@alvinmitchell1412]

Exactly not just pardons and don’t forget to Expunge their records, as well and that will help your little pardon, be for real, and even the ones in prison at the present time also.

[@alonzoquinones8976]

So it's nothing more than a clerical. Or an administrative pardon has nothing to do with the people that have been incarcerated in the system.

[@eblaisedepaolo9290]

So proud to live in Maryland!

[@factsnotfeelings3247]

This pardon EXCLUDES and DOES NOT help people who are currently incarcerated.

[@mamabear3217]

Keep it going

[@TruFinesse86]

Man please.. Pay Reparations to Foundational Black Americans

[@y_chelle]

Encourage people to get off the couch and vote.

[@mamabear3217]

Our dynamics are changing

[@skywalker39100]

Happy Juneteenth!🎉❤

[@heyjoe9228]

How come this did not happen 7 years ago when the 1 step act was made

[@afghanica]

correction @ 19:28, she meant to say "former president trump", and not "former president biden"

[@malachibenyisrael4621]

A pardon is not enough.

[@y_chelle]

We have to get off the couch and continuously vote for these types of politicians.

[@yogi4lyfe]

Thank you !

[@adrianwillis66]

Amen. It would hypocritical not to!! And now they can vote

[@barricade9422]

WHAT THEIR RECORDS!

[@erniehanson5492]

De schedule Cannabis!

[@y_chelle]

I believe President Biden recently did that.

[@bigyada9406]

I think the laws should be informed equally across the bord. However I think it still should be against the law

[@cmvamerica9011]

It’s time for appropriate justice; but don’t get weak on violent crime.

[@malarsson]

❗ The US as in all wars - physical as psychological! BLAME the enemy for what the US are doing ... including how the US/West blame Russia for what we and Ukrainiae are doing!! 🤷 We seem to NEVER LEARN❗

[@blaq7892]

How is west Moore insuring safe cannibis in the raggedy corner stores.

[@user-dg8jn4bn2v]

Damn shame all these legal drug dealers! SMH

[@charlesgarrett7854]

Celebration 🍾 without reparation 😂

[@mamabear3217]

That speech 👌

[@user-jf8hs5fm7n]

Play for votes

[@lalapo5304]

Except voting is 2 years away so...

[@dbig48d]

​@lalapo5304 the President is in trouble so this shenanigans is for the party and this years presidentialelections. Not the state elections

[@lalapo5304]

@@dbig48d This has nothing to do with the president silly.

[@dbig48d]

@lalapo5304 oh really, so it took 2 years into his administration to make this happen. Very coincidental that it happening now. Why is it important to do it now?? Wouldn't be surprised that some pact group uses this in the ads in the next couple months

[@lalapo5304]

@@dbig48d Literally no one cares. And it's PAC.

[@JUDALATION]

why were they convicted in the first place?

[@davidt51]

Is that the fake sign language lady?!

[@user-jf8hs5fm7n]

Maybe for vo1es

[@factsnotfeelings3247]

Looks like it because it does not touch felony convictions and excludes curry people incarcerated for marijuana.

[@irenenabizadeh6802]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Avg_Vet]

She misspoke and meant to say former president trump when talking about criminalization and death penalty. Nobody corrected it so i figured i would.