Maryland Governor Pardons More Than 175,000 Marijuana Convictions

The pardons will not result in anyone being released from incarceration, nor will they result in having past convictions automatically expunged.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore holds up an executive order he signed to issue more than 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions in Annapolis, Md., on June 17, 2024. Brian Witte/AP Photo

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has signed an executive order pardoning more than 175,000 convictions of simple marijuana possession and certain convictions for misdemeanor possession of cannabis paraphernalia.

At a news conference on June 17, the Democrat governor described the act as the “most sweeping state-level pardon” in any U.S. state in the country’s history.