EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*hb0001*
HOUSE BILL 1
E1, C2, J1 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT (2lr0381)
ENROLLED BILL
— Judiciary/Finance —
Introduced by Delegate Clippinger
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at __ ______________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Constitutional Amendment – Cannabis – Adult Use and Possession 2
FOR the purpose of establishing that, on or after a certain date, an individual in the State 3
who is at least a certain age may use and possess cannabis. 4
BY proposing an addition to the Maryland Constitution 5
New Article XX – Cannabis 6
Section 1 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
(Three–fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses concurring), That it be 9
proposed that the Maryland Constitution read as follows: 10
ARTICLE XX – CANNABIS 11
2 HOUSE BILL 1
1. 1
(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2
2023, AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE STATE WHO IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD MAY USE AN D 3
POSSESS CANNABIS . 4
(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL , BY LAW, PROVIDE FOR THE USE , 5
DISTRIBUTION, POSSESSION, REGULATION , AND TAXATION OF CANN ABIS WITHIN 6
THE STATE. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the General Assembly 8
determines that the amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this 9
Act affects multiple jurisdictions and that the provisions of Article XIV, § 1 of the Maryland 10
Constitution concerning local approval of constitutional amendments do not apply. 11
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 12
(a) The amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this 13
Act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the next general election to be 14
held in November 2022 for adoption or rejection pursuant to Article XIV of the Maryland 15
Constitution. 16
(b) (1) At that general election, the vote on the proposed amendment to the 17
Constitution shall be by ballot, and on each ballot there shall be printed the words “For the 18
Constitutional Amendment” and “Against the Constitutional Amendment”, as now 19
provided by law. 20
(2) At that general election, a question substantially similar to the 21
following shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State: 22
“Question ___ – Constitutional Amendment 23
Do you favor the legalization of adult–use the use of cannabis by an individual who 24
is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?”. 25
(c) Immediately after the election, all returns shall be made to the Governor of 26
the vote for and against the proposed amendment, as directed by Article XIV of the 27
Maryland Constitution, and further proceedings had in accordance with Article XIV. 28