LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 45
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Chapter 45
(House Bill 1)
AN ACT concerning
Constitutional Amendment – Cannabis – Adult Use and Possession
FOR the purpose of establishing that, on or after a certain date, an individual in the State
who is at least a certain age may use and possess cannabis.
BY proposing an addition to the Maryland Constitution
New Article XX – Cannabis
Section 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
(Three–fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses concurring), That it be
proposed that the Maryland Constitution read as follows:
ARTICLE XX – CANNABIS
1.
(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , ON OR AFTER JULY 1,
2023, AN INDIVIDUAL IN TH E STATE WHO IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD MAY USE AN D
POSSESS CANNABIS .
(B) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL , BY LAW, PROVIDE FOR THE USE ,
DISTRIBUTION, POSSESSION, REGULATION , AND TAXATION OF CANN ABIS WITHIN
THE STATE.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the General Assembly
determines that the amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this
Act affects multiple jurisdictions and that the provisions of Article XIV, § 1 of the Maryland
Constitution concerning local approval of constitutional amendments do not apply.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
(a) The amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this
Act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the next general election to be
held in November 2022 for adoption or rejection pursuant to Article XIV of the Maryland
Constitution.
(b) (1) At that general election, the vote on the proposed amendment to the
Constitution shall be by ballot, and on each ballot there shall be printed the words “For the Ch. 45 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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Constitutional Amendment” and “Against the Constitutional Amendment”, as now
provided by law.
(2) At that general election, a question substantially similar to the
following shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State:
“Question ___ – Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor the legalization of adult–use the use of cannabis by an individual who
is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?”.
(c) Immediately after the election, all returns shall be made to the Governor of
the vote for and against the proposed amendment, as directed by Article XIV of the
Maryland Constitution, and further proceedings had in accordance with Article XIV.
Assigned a chapter number, enactment subject to constitutional referendum,
April 9, 2022.