2022 Maryland Question 4

{{Short description|Referendum question in Maryland}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox referendum | country = Maryland | date = November 8, 2022 | name = Referendum Question 4 | title = Cannabis - Legalization of Adult Use and Possession | yes = 1302180 | no = 635580 | total = 1937760 | map = {{switcher |300px |County results |300px |Congressional district results |300px |Precinct results}} | mapcaption = {{col-begin}} {{col-3}} '''Yes''' {{legend|#2B2457|90–100% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#28497C|80–90% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#47729E|70–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#7D9CBB|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#B6C8D9|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{col-3}} '''No''' {{legend|#32320C|90–100% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#5D5D2D|80–90% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#8B8B54|70–80% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#BCBC83|60–70% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#DEDEBD|50–60% |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{col-3}} '''Other''' {{legend|#EBEEED|Tie |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{legend|#808080|No votes |border=1px #AAAAAA solid}} {{col-end}} | notes = Source: [https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_detail_qresults_2022_4_1.html Maryland State Board of Elections] }} {{ElectionsMD}}

'''Question 4''' was a voter referendum to amend the Constitution of Maryland in order to legalize cannabis for adult use in Maryland. The referendum was approved overwhelmingly, with more than twice as many voters voting in favor of it than against it and winning in all but one county, on November 8, 2022. It went into effect on July 1, 2023.

==Ballot measure== The ballot measure read as follows:<ref name="billtext">{{cite web |last1=Wobensmith |first1=John C. |author1-link=John C. Wobensmith |title=Ballot Language Certification |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/Linda%20Lamone%20ltr.,%20ballot%20language,%208.3.2022.pdf |publisher=Office of the Maryland Secretary of State |access-date=February 2, 2025 |date=August 2, 2022}}</ref> {{blockquote|'''Question 1 Constitutional Amendment'''}}

{{blockquote|Do you favor the legalization of 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?}}

The choices read as follows:<ref name="billtext" />

{{blockquote|'''For''' the Constitutional Amendment '''Against''' the Constitutional Amendment}}

==History== On July 16, 2021, State House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones created a committee to draft a referendum on legalization to place on the ballot in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maryland House speaker supports 2022 vote on marijuana legalization|author1=Pamela Wood |author2=Bryn Stole|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=July 16, 2021|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-speaker-marijuana-20210716-a4ab5oqi65cajltzp6gw2pmdke-story.html|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717041414/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-speaker-marijuana-20210716-a4ab5oqi65cajltzp6gw2pmdke-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Around December 25, the chairman of the state House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup, Luke Clippinger, pre-filed House Bill 1 for the 2022 session, to initiate the citizen referendum in 2022 that would create a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maryland legislature to consider voter referendum on legalizing marijuana for 2022 ballot|author=Dan Friedell |date=December 25, 2021|publisher=WTOP-FM|url=https://wtop.com/maryland/2021/12/maryland-legislature-to-consider-voter-referendum-on-legalizing-marijuana-for-2022-ballot/}}</ref> The referendum bill and accompanying bill implementing legalization, House Bill 837 received public testimony and were discussed by the House Judiciary Committee on February 14, 2022.<ref name=Wood20220214>{{cite news|title=Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization|author=Pamela Wood|date=February 14, 2022|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-marijuana-referendum-20220214-t64m2allrrd7rlpjp3w46ei7mu-story.html}}</ref> House Bill 1 was passed 96–34 by the House of Delegates on February 25.<ref name=Herrington2022>{{cite news|work=High Times|title=Maryland House Advances Cannabis Legalization Bills|author=A.J. Herrington|date=February 25, 2022|url=https://hightimes.com/news/maryland-house-advances-cannabis-legalization-bills/}}</ref><ref>[https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/Hb0001 Constitutional Amendment - Cannabis - Adult Use and Possession (HB0001) history], Maryland legislature official website, accessed February 25, 2022</ref> This bill was contingent on passage of the ballot referendum in the November 2022 election, whereby it would legalize recreational use of cannabis possession and use on or after July 1, 2023. The constitutional referendum and the legalization bill were both passed by the Maryland Senate on April 1.<ref name=AP20220401>{{cite news|title=Maryland voters to decide recreational marijuana in November|author=Brian Witte|publisher=Associated Press|date=April 1, 2022|url=https://apnews.com/article/larry-hogan-maryland-marijuana-constitutional-amendments-constitutions-1f60d69c21e364499b81b0e76caf65ed}}</ref> Senate Finance Committee hearings on the bills began on March 23.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dearth of medical cannabis licenses concerns advocates of pot legalization|author=Bryan P. Sears|newspaper=Daily Record|location=Baltimore|date=March 22, 2022|url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2022/03/22/dearth-of-medical-cannabis-licenses-concerns-advocates-of-pot-legalization/}}</ref>

Voters approved the referendum on November 8, 2022, with 67.2% of voters and 23 of 24 counties and county-equivalents (all but Garrett County) in favor. It fully took effect on July 1, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Associated Press|title=Maryland legalizes marijuana; 4 other states also voting|author=Andrew DeMillo|date=November 8, 2022|url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-marijuana-8b91194279bf42c9bc01cbabdab0c015}}</ref><ref name=HT20221108/><ref name=Fox20221108>{{cite news|publisher=Associated Press|via=Fox News|title=Maryland voters approve legalization of recreational marijuana|date=November 8, 2022|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/maryland-voters-approve-legalization-recreational-marijuana}}</ref>

==Provisions== The bill provides for adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to {{convert|1+1/2|oz|g}} of marijuana and decriminalize possession of amounts greater than that up to {{convert|2+1/2|oz|g}}. This bill would also establish a Cannabis Business Assistance Fund to support equity initiatives for minority- and women-owned businesses. That fund would go toward incubator and educational programs to promote participation in the industry by people most impacted by criminalization. The bill would also automatically expunge prior criminal convictions for conduct made legal under the proposed law.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/top-maryland-lawmaker-files-marijuana-legalization-bill-in-anticipation-of-ballot-referendum-passing/|title=Top Maryland Lawmaker Files Marijuana Legalization Bill In Anticipation Of Ballot Referendum Passing|date=February 3, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-0206-legalize-cannabis-20220203-duqsqzsuwndy7ge76lystccjie-story.html|title=An equitable path to legalizing cannabis in Maryland|date=February 3, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2022/02/03/marijuana-legalization-bill-announced-by-maryland-house-leadership/|title=Marijuana legalization bill announced by Maryland House leadership|date=February 3, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://mjbizdaily.com/maryland-lawmakers-launch-new-recreational-cannabis-legalization-push/|title=Maryland lawmakers launch new recreational cannabis legalization push|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wjla.com/news/local/pair-md-bills-could-make-marijuana-legal-2023-expunge-records-prior-convictions-weed-maryland-pot-prison-drugs|title=Pair of Md. bills could make marijuana legal by 2023, expunge records of prior convictions|date=February 4, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-marijuana-referendum-20220214-t64m2allrrd7rlpjp3w46ei7mu-story.html|title=Maryland lawmakers get first look at plan for full marijuana legalization|date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/maryland-lawmakers-take-first-step-to-putting-marijuana-legalization-on-2022-ballot-with-hearing-on-two-bills/|title=Maryland Lawmakers Take First Step To Putting Marijuana Legalization On 2022 Ballot With Hearing On Two Bills|date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref>

Between January 1 and July 1, 2023, possession of up to 1.5 ounces was to be a civil infraction subject to a $100 fine, as provided by House Bill 837.<ref name=Fox20221108/><ref name=HT20221108>{{citation|work=High Times|title=Legalization Initiative Passes in Maryland with Question 4|quote=Maryland data published in October showed that 73% of voters were in favor of legalization—and the results show that this was true for voters.|author=Nicole Potter|date=November 8, 2022|url=https://hightimes.com/news/legalization-initiative-passes-in-maryland-with-question-4/}}</ref>

==Opinion polls== '''On Question 4''' {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s) administered ! Sample size{{efn|name="key"}} ! Margin of error ! style="width:100px;"| Yes ! style="width:100px;"| No ! Other ! Undecided |- |style="text-align:left;"|OpinionWorks<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-sun-poll-cannabis-legalization-support-20221031-imm4bjoknfb4hifpq5nbysn6o4-story.html OpinionWorks]</ref> |October 20–23, 2022 |989 (LV) |± 3.1% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''63%''' |25% |– |12% |- |style="text-align:left;"|University of Maryland<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/10/05/maryland-recreational-marijuana-poll/ University of Maryland]</ref> |September 22–27, 2022 |810 (RV) |± 4.0% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''73%''' |23% |– |4% |- |style="text-align:left;"|Victoria Research<ref>[https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marylands-marijuana-legalization-referendum-could-drive-strong-voter-turnout-poll-indicates/ Victoria Research]</ref>{{efn-ua|This poll was sponsored the Yes on 4 Campaign, which supports Question 4|name=YO4}} |September 11–19, 2022 |762 (RV) |± 3.7% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''69%''' |20% |2%{{efn|"Usually skip/Might skip" with 2%}} |8% |- |style="text-align:left;"|Goucher College<ref>[https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/documents/Goucher-College-Poll-September-2022.pdf Goucher College]</ref> |September 8–12, 2022 |748 (LV) |± 3.6% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''59%''' |34% |– |7% |}

'''On whether recreational marijuana should be legal''' {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s) administered ! Sample size{{efn|name=key|Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear}} ! Margin of error ! style="width:100px;"| Yes ! style="width:100px;"| No ! style="width:100px;"| Other ! style="width:100px;"| Undecided |- |style="text-align:left;"|Goucher College<ref>[https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/documents/Goucher-College-Poll-March-2022-Part-1.pdf Goucher College]</ref> |March 1–6, 2022 |635 (A) |± 3.9% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''62%''' |34% |1%{{efn|"Refused" with 1%}} |3% |- |style="text-align:left;"|Goucher College<ref>[https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/documents/Goucher-College-Poll-Oct-2021-Part-1.pdf Goucher College]</ref> |October 14–20, 2021 |700 (A) |± 3.7% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''60%''' |33% |3%{{efn|"Refused" with 3%}} |4% |- |style="text-align:left;"|Gonzales Research (D)<ref>[https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/06/04/early-democratic-poll-shows-baker-adams-leading-statewide-primaries-but-many-voters-undecided/ Gonzales Research (D)]</ref>{{efn-ua|This poll was sponsored by Douglas J. J. Peters|name=Peters}} |May 17–22, 2021 |301 (LV){{efn|301 likely Democratic primary voters}} |± 5.8% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''69%''' |24% |7%{{efn|"Refused" with 7%}} |– |- |style="text-align:left;"|Goucher College<ref>[https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/documents/Goucher-College-Poll-Mar-2021-Part-2.pdf Goucher College]</ref> |February 23–28, 2021 |725 (A) |± 3.6% |style="background: rgb(1,223,116);"|'''67%''' |28% |1%{{efn|"Refused" with 1%}} |4% |}

==Results== {{referendum results | caption = 2022 Maryland Question 4 | for = 1302180 | against = 635580 | turnout = }}

Source: Maryland State Board of Elections<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for All State Questions |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_qresults_2022_1_00_ALL.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=November 28, 2022}}</ref>

=== By county === {{collapse top|1=By county|left=yes|bg=#B0CEFF;line-height:135%;|border=none}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |+Breakdown of voting by county<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Presidential General Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2012/results/general/gen_detail_qresults_2012_4_0004S-.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=August 25, 2024}}</ref> |- style="background:lightgrey;" ! rowspan="2"|County ! colspan="2"|Yes ! colspan="2"|No ! colspan="2"|Margin ! rowspan="2 |Total Votes |- !# !% !# !% !# !% |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Allegany | style="text-align:center;"|'''11,973''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''58.0%''' | style="text-align:center;"|8,683 | style="text-align:center;"|42.0% | style="text-align:center;"|3,290 | style="text-align:center;"|15.9% | style="text-align:center;"|20,656 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Anne Arundel | style="text-align:center;"|'''137,461''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''65.4%''' | style="text-align:center;"|72,579 | style="text-align:center;"|34.6% | style="text-align:center;"|64,882 | style="text-align:center;"|30.9% | style="text-align:center;"|210,040 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Baltimore City | style="text-align:center;"|'''111,227''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''78.9%''' | style="text-align:center;"|29,718 | style="text-align:center;"|21.1% | style="text-align:center;"|81,509 | style="text-align:center;"|57.8% | style="text-align:center;"|140,945 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Baltimore | style="text-align:center;"|'''176,358''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''66.4%''' | style="text-align:center;"|89,073 | style="text-align:center;"|33.6% | style="text-align:center;"|87,285 | style="text-align:center;"|32.9% | style="text-align:center;"|265,431 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Calvert | style="text-align:center;"|'''21,640''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''60.2%''' | style="text-align:center;"|14,301 | style="text-align:center;"|39.8% | style="text-align:center;"|7,339 | style="text-align:center;"|20.4% | style="text-align:center;"|35,941 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Caroline | style="text-align:center;"|'''6,154''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''59.9%''' | style="text-align:center;"|4,112 | style="text-align:center;"|40.1% | style="text-align:center;"|2,042 | style="text-align:center;"|19.9% | style="text-align:center;"|10,266 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Carroll | style="text-align:center;"|'''41,499''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''59.4%''' | style="text-align:center;"|28,334 | style="text-align:center;"|40.6% | style="text-align:center;"|13,165 | style="text-align:center;"|18.9% | style="text-align:center;"|69,883 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Cecil | style="text-align:center;"|'''19,435''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''61.1%''' | style="text-align:center;"|12,349 | style="text-align:center;"|38.9% | style="text-align:center;"|7,086 | style="text-align:center;"|22.3% | style="text-align:center;"|31,784 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Charles | style="text-align:center;"|'''34,198''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''65.3%''' | style="text-align:center;"|18,204 | style="text-align:center;"|34.7% | style="text-align:center;"|15,994 | style="text-align:center;"|30.5% | style="text-align:center;"|52,402 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Dorchester | style="text-align:center;"|'''6,575''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''60.6%''' | style="text-align:center;"|4,267 | style="text-align:center;"|39.4% | style="text-align:center;"|2,308 | style="text-align:center;"|21.3% | style="text-align:center;"|10,842 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Frederick | style="text-align:center;"|'''66,991''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''64.9%''' | style="text-align:center;"|36,210 | style="text-align:center;"|35.1% | style="text-align:center;"|30,781 | style="text-align:center;"|29.8% | style="text-align:center;"|103,201 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#ffc8c8;"|Garrett | style="text-align:center;"|5,394 | style="text-align:center;"|49.4% | style="text-align:center;"|'''5,528''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''50.6%''' | style="text-align:center;"|-134 | style="text-align:center;"|-1.2% | style="text-align:center;"|10,992 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Harford | style="text-align:center;"|'''61,813''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''61.2%''' | style="text-align:center;"|39,255 | style="text-align:center;"|38.8% | style="text-align:center;"|22,558 | style="text-align:center;"|22.3% | style="text-align:center;"|101,068 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Howard | style="text-align:center;"|'''84,666''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''66.5''' | style="text-align:center;"|42,651 | style="text-align:center;"|33.5% | style="text-align:center;"|42,015 | style="text-align:center;"|33.0% | style="text-align:center;"|127,317 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Kent | style="text-align:center;"|'''5,293''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''65.6%''' | style="text-align:center;"|2,775 | style="text-align:center;"|34.4% | style="text-align:center;"|2,518 | style="text-align:center;"|31.2% | style="text-align:center;"|8,068 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Montgomery | style="text-align:center;"|'''238,861''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''72.3%''' | style="text-align:center;"|91,310 | style="text-align:center;"|27.7% | style="text-align:center;"|147,551 | style="text-align:center;"|44.7% | style="text-align:center;"|330,171 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Prince George's | style="text-align:center;"|'''164,177''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''72.1%''' | style="text-align:center;"|63,686 | style="text-align:center;"|27.9% | style="text-align:center;"|100,491 | style="text-align:center;"|44.1% | style="text-align:center;"|227,863 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Queen Anne's | style="text-align:center;"|'''13,161''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''59.3%''' | style="text-align:center;"|9,033 | style="text-align:center;"|40.7% | style="text-align:center;"|4,128 | style="text-align:center;"|18.6% | style="text-align:center;"|22,194 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|St. Mary's | style="text-align:center;"|'''21,182''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''58.2%''' | style="text-align:center;"|15,184 | style="text-align:center;"|41.8% | style="text-align:center;"|5,998 | style="text-align:center;"|16.5% | style="text-align:center;"|36,366 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Somerset | style="text-align:center;"|'''3,712''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''58.6%''' | style="text-align:center;"|2,620 | style="text-align:center;"|41.4% | style="text-align:center;"|1,092 | style="text-align:center;"|17.2% | style="text-align:center;"|6,332 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Talbot | style="text-align:center;"|'''10,459''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''61.3%''' | style="text-align:center;"|6,598 | style="text-align:center;"|38.7% | style="text-align:center;"|3,861 | style="text-align:center;"|22.6% | style="text-align:center;"|17,057 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Washington | style="text-align:center;"|'''27,501''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''59.0%''' | style="text-align:center;"|19,134 | style="text-align:center;"|41.0% | style="text-align:center;"|8,367 | style="text-align:center;"|17.9% | style="text-align:center;"|46,635 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Wicomico | style="text-align:center;"|'''18,313''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''62.0%''' | style="text-align:center;"|11,226 | style="text-align:center;"|38.0% | style="text-align:center;"|7,087 | style="text-align:center;"|24.0% | style="text-align:center;"|29,539 |- | style="text-align:center; background:#c8ffc8;"|Worcester | style="text-align:center;"|'''14,118''' | style="text-align:center;"|'''61.8%''' | style="text-align:center;"|8,742 | style="text-align:center;"|38.2% | style="text-align:center;"|5,376 | style="text-align:center;"|23.5% | style="text-align:center;"|22,860 |- class="sortbottom" | style="background-color:#E6E6E6;"| '''Total''' | '''1,302,161''' | '''67.20%''' | '''635,572''' | '''32.80%''' |'''666,589''' |'''34.40%''' |'''1,937,733''' |} {{collapse bottom}}

==Notes== {{notelist}} '''Partisan clients''' {{notelist-ua}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Ballotpedia|Maryland_Question_4,_Marijuana_Legalization_Amendment_(2022)|Maryland Question 4, marijuana legalization amendment (2022)}} *[https://legiscan.com/MD/bill/HB1/2022 Maryland House Bill 1] at Legiscan

Category:2022 cannabis law reform Category:Cannabis ballot measures in the United States Category:Cannabis in Maryland Category:Maryland ballot measures Category:U.S. state constitutional amendments Question 4

2022 Maryland Question 4

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