MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Once, cannabis was a target in the so-called "war on drugs," now it's legal in nearly half the country and bringing in millions in tax revenue.
A new bill in Montgomery County would help funnel a large chunk of that tax money back to the communities where weed most often landed people behind bars before it became legal.
"The first thing we have to do is recognize that that is the problem here, right," said Montgomery County Councilmember Kristen Mink. "Where we have a history of the carceral effects of the war on drugs."
Mink added that the "war on drugs" was weaponized against people, especially the Black community.
The drug that once put some behind bars is now bringing in tens of millions in tax dollars for the state of Maryland. As part of the law that legalized recreational weed in 2023, Annapolis is required to use a percentage of that tax money to invest in the communities most affected by the policing of weed when it was illegal.
Montgomery County is expecting $1 million in state money for community programs - from just the first six months of recreational weed sales.
"As we receive those funds, it should not just be folks sitting here in government saying this is the nonprofit or the organization or the initiative that they should go to," Mink explained. "We need to have a body that is made up of members of the public."
Councilmember Mink is co-sponsoring a bill that would set up a citizen commission to decide how the money should be spent.
"We are going to be looking for, getting the right people in those seats who can really do a deep dive into our community-based organizations, and provide some clear insights about where they think we can see the greatest return on our investment," Mink said.
The council member explained that some counties have already started distributing funds. She hopes Montgomery County can get money in the hands of non-profits by spring or summer.
When asked if Mink believes the money is enough to make a difference she responded with absolute surety.
"One million dollars in a year, directed towards community-based organizations? Absolutely," Mink said. "That's going to make a big impact. Does it solve the entire problem? Absolutely not."
Mink further added that reparations, repairing the harm that has been done, is going to be an ongoing process.
"This is a very small piece of the pie there," she said. "But it's a start."
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