Maryland House speaker supports cannabis referendum

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland’s House speaker says she supports a referendum to legalize marijuana on next year’s ballot.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones announced a workgroup on Friday to study how to implement a recreational marijuana program in Maryland, if voters approve. The Baltimore County Democrat says she has personal concerns about encouraging marijuana use, but the disparate criminal justice impact leads her to believe that voters should have a say in the future of legalization. She says the House will pass legislation early next year to put the question before voters. The workgroup will begin meeting this fall.

The District of Columbia, Virginia and 17 other states have legalized recreational use.

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