BALTIMORE — Medical cannabis in Maryland faces a potential setback as officials charge one of its most vocal champions with bribery. Recently resigned Maryland State Del. Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore, is accused of taking bribes from businesses looking to get lucrative medical cannabis licenses.
WUSA9 last interviewed Glenn in Annapolis on Sept. 26 as she joined black cannabis business owners and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. They all pressed Maryland's Medical Cannabis Commission to postpone selecting 14 businesses for medical cannabis growing and processing licenses.
The commission punted making a choice after Glenn and others accused it of not being fair when selecting businesses of color.
"Maryland state residency meant something," Glenn said in September. "House Bill 2 was not for the purposes of expanding the footprint to hedge fund companies out of Maryland."
Glenn mentioned a bill she's now accused in an indictment of farming out for bribes. She's accused of taking a total of $33,750 from unnamed Maryland businesses hoping she could change the law to give them a chance at winning a cannabis license.
Maryland US Attorney Robert Hur detailed one part of the alleged scheme in the indictment:
"Ms. Glenn met with a business person at a restaurant in Baltimore to discuss medical marijuana issues. During the conversation, Ms. Glenn allegedly said that people had asked her how a medical marijuana business, without any high-priced lobbyists, had been awarded a marijuana growing license. Ms. Glenn allegedly responded, 'They know God, and Cheryl Glenn.'"
Glenn represented Baltimore for 12 years until she suddenly resigned last week. She faces 25 years in federal prison if convicted. Glenn hasn't returned a request for comment. She faces a federal judge Jan. 22.
A spokesperson for Maryland's Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission, named after cannabis advocate and mother of Glenn, reacted to the news with the following statement:
"The Commission was disappointed to hear about today’s charges. We were not aware of the federal investigation or charges until today, and are unable to comment on an ongoing criminal matter. The Commission plans to carefully examine additional information as it becomes available in order to determine any next steps."