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Kevin Ford Jr. works to educate Marylanders on how the cannabis industry can bring positive changes to Black and brown communities, whose families have historically been harmed by inequities in marijuana prosecutions.
Ford serves as executive director of Uplift Action Fund Inc., a super PAC that recently began a get out the vote campaign urging support for the statewide ballot question that would legalize recreational cannabis use.
His organization seeks $30,000 to spread the word through social media, digital ads and other forms of communication. According to a recent campaign finance filing, the PAC has raised $3,600 so far.
Ford is among many Marylanders who use cannabis for medicinal purposes.
鈥淗elps with my migraines. Keeps the pressure in your head really steady,鈥� said Ford, who consumes cannabis by smoking and cooking in foods. 鈥淚鈥檓 a multi-faceted consumer. The biggest part of that is I consume and still live my daily life and being a man and taking care of my responsibilities.鈥�
Ford isn鈥檛 doing this work alone. He鈥檚 receiving some advice from his godfather: former Prince George鈥檚 County Executive and two-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rushern L. Baker III.
Baker鈥檚 consulting firm, Baker Strategy Group, serves as an adviser to Uplift, which utilizes the former county executive鈥檚 College Park work address.
鈥淓ven as Maryland鈥檚 medical cannabis industry continues to struggle with minority participation, the legalization of adult-use cannabis is a critical step toward righting the injustices of the war on drugs,鈥� Baker said in a statement. 鈥淭hese communities hardest hit need to be recompensed in some way from legalization, but in order for that to happen, we must fully engage ourselves in the legislative process.鈥�
The state ballot question known as 鈥淨uestion 4鈥� asks: 鈥淒o 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?鈥�
Various polls say 鈥測es,鈥� including a聽聽released Thursday that showed 69% of voters plan to vote in the affirmative.
The poll taken Sept. 11-19 by Victoria Research and Sojourn Strategies found four of the state鈥檚 biggest jurisdictions overwhelmingly supporting legalization: Prince George鈥檚 County at 65%; Montgomery County at 68%; Baltimore County at 74%; Baltimore City at 83%.
Uplift Action plans to focus its attention on where the majority of Black residents reside in both Baltimore jurisdictions and in Prince George鈥檚 and Charles counties, located in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
鈥淧art of this to educate what exactly this means when we vote for legalization,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淢ost people don鈥檛 know what the actual implications are鈥hat affect everyday Marylanders.鈥�
鈥楢 thoughtful way鈥�
If the measure passes next month, Maryland would join聽聽that have legalized recreational cannabis use. Here are some of the聽聽in an accompanying law that passed through the General Assembly this year, which renames marijuana as cannabis:
- The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission must conduct a comprehensive study of the cannabis market. An analysis released three years ago found evidence of 鈥渂ias or undue influence in the 2019 medical cannabis application review process.鈥�
- At least 30% of revenue from adult-use cannabis must be reinvested for community-based initiatives in areas historically affected by cannabis convictions.
- A person convicted for single possession of cannabis can petition to have a record expunged.
- Possessions of small amounts of cannabis up to 2.5 ounces would become a civil offense in January. However, a person cannot possess up to 1.5 ounces until July.
Activists pushed in this year鈥檚 General Assembly session a measure that would have prohibited police officers from searching a person based on the smell of cannabis. It didn鈥檛 pass.
罢丑别听聽notes in 2018, Blacks were more than two times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites.
Krystal Oriadha, the only Democratic nominee with a Republican opponent in next month鈥檚 general election for a seat on Prince George鈥檚 County Council, said changes in current policy or new laws implemented 鈥渕ust be done in a thoughtful way.鈥�
鈥淭he policy that the legislative body pushes [must be] holistic and make sure that Black and brown communities are not affected by this,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ake sure it is holistic such as what聽聽did with the pardons; making sure it is equitable in accessing wealth. Can鈥檛 do what has been done in some states and not help the communities that have [been] affected the most.鈥�
Oriadha serves as a co-founder of the local activist group called PG Changemakers, which will host a聽聽in support of Question 4.
The discussion will feature Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George鈥檚), who sponsored聽聽last year that incorporated similar measures Uplift and other cannabis reform advocates support. However, the bill didn鈥檛 make it out of the House Judiciary Committee.
鈥淓very year, 19,000 people are arrested simply for possession. It鈥檚 a waste of my, and your resources,鈥� Lewis said in an Oct. 5 video posted on the PG Changemakers鈥� Instagram. 鈥淚鈥檓 for ending prohibition because I鈥檓 a father [and] I鈥檓 a son. I don鈥檛 want to pass this problem on to the next generation. We can do it right now by voting yes on Question 4. End cannabis prohibition in the state of Maryland.鈥�
Committee spends over $100K to pass the measure
Meanwhile, the Yes on 4 Committee, the principal campaign entity working to pass question 4, reported raising $106,220 between Aug. 24 and Oct. 9 and spending $112,555 during that period. The committee 鈥� whose formal name is MD CAN 鈥�22 Inc. 鈥� previously reported spending $27,275 between May 16 and Aug. 24.
Almost all of the contributions to the campaign committee in the most recent reporting period came from cannabis-related businesses, including $50,000 from SunMed Growers in Earlville, $25,000 from Curio Wellness in Towson, $25,000 from Green Thumb Industries in Chicago, and $5,000 from Peake Releaf in Rockville.
Curio Wellness also reported $15,800 in in-kind contributions, paying for outdoor signs supporting the ballot measure, while the Marijuana Policy Project provided $26,000 in in-kind contributions to organize events in support of the initiative. Earlier this year, Trulieve Medical Cannabis Dispensary in Rockville reported a $50,000 contribution to the campaign committee.
The lion鈥檚 share of reported expenses include payments for video production, graphic design, mailers and consultant fees. The committee, which also paid for the poll that was released last week, had $16,488 in the bank as of Oct. 9.
Josh Kurtz contributed to this report.
