I want to recognize and celebrate a significant milestone in the movement toward a better approach to drug policy. Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently signed an executive order pardoning 175,000 cannabis convictions! Click here to read more about it.

This historic action represents the largest pardon for misdemeanor cannabis possession charges by any state in the country.

While this is a big step forward, it’s crucial to note that these convictions have been pardoned but not expunged — which can be a costly and time-consuming process. Until they are expunged, the convictions still appear on individuals’ records, which can continue to create barriers to employment, housing, etc.

Expungement would remove these barriers completely, which would be another huge step forward. A step other states have already started taking, which is amazing!

Michigan’s Clean Slate law, implemented last year, is a good example. Certain low-level offenses were automatically expunged, impacting nearly 10 percent of the state’s population. That’s stunning!

All steps forward should be celebrated, so we love what Maryland did, even as we look toward the next step and the next one. Change happens one step at a time, and we love celebrating these wins!