Morning Roundup

Today is the day adult recreational use becomes legal as Maryland joins twenty other states in changing its laws to allow possession of certain amounts of marijuana. Right now, about 180,000 state residents are registered to purchase cannabis products for medicinal use. The new law allows the market to be open to nearly 4.5 million residents who are of legal age. (Maryland Matters)

• Sales for recreational cannabis use are restricted to adults 21 and older. ID will be required at the time of purchase.
• An adult may buy 1.5 ounces of raw flower or pre-rolled joints; a maximum of 12 grams of concentrated cannabis for vaping; or edibles not to exceed a total of 750 mg of THC.
• Cannabis may not be used in public or on federal property. It is illegal for drivers or passengers to use cannabis in a vehicle.
• Use of cannabis can result in a DUI charge.
• State law does not supersede workplace rules governing impairment while at work. Federal or state laws governing impairment still apply.
• Adults 21 and older may grow two plants at home, out of public view, for recreational purposes. The law limits home growth to two plants regardless of the number of adults over 21 living in the same household

Source: Maryland Matters

Almost 100 cannabis dispensaries throughout the state of Maryland will be able to sell marijuana to all adults over age 21.

A complete guide to the new rules. (Washington Post)

There are other laws surrounding it that also go into effect today as well. Law enforcement in Maryland can no longer solely use the suspected smell of cannabis as cause for the search of a vehicle. Another new law removes the use of cannabis as one of the definitions of neglect that are used in Children In Need of Assistance (CINA) proceedings, which can determine custody and visitation rights. (WYPR)

Marijuana won’t be legal everywhere in Maryland…

Poll: Legalization won’t change the habits of most Marylanders, but 1 in 6 are “cannabis curious”. (Baltimore Banner)

Q&A with author and physician Dr. Peter Grinspoon on the pros and cons of recreational cannabis use. (Baltimore Banner)

A race to meet demand. (Washington Post)

Editorial: Recreational cannabis is not meant to be abused. (Baltimore Times)

A Federal Hill cannabis dispensary was shutdown just days after its grand opening for rules violations. State regulators lifted the suspension earlier this week slapping the business with a $81,500 fine. (Baltimore Business Journal)

Officials on the Eastern Shore say the new marijuana law has gray areas that makes it difficult for law enforcement to know what is a violation of where people are allowed to smoke marijuana on public versus private property. (WBOC)

Maryland’s gas prices will rise this weekend due to the state’s automatic gas tax increase. The state’s gas tax will rise 4.3 cents per gallon beginning today for both gasoline and diesel fuel. (WBFF)

Beginning today, most business owners around the state will have six months to prepare for a coming jump in the state’s minimum wage. (Southern Maryland Chronicle)

More than 300 new laws take effect today in Maryland. (WBAL)

The Archdiocese of Baltimore added more than 40 names to its public list of Catholic Church staff credibly accused of sexually abusing children, including for the first time, deacons, nuns and lay teachers. (Baltimore Sun)

Former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s new legal team is making a second push at getting her trial moved out of Baltimore. (Baltimore Banner)

Maryland’s education leaders react after a Supreme Court ruling yesterday effectively killed President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of Americans. (Baltimore Sun/Reuters)

The Baltimore Department of Public Works has a new interim director. (WJZ)

Maryland State Police say an impatient driver on I-95 in Prince George’s County led to the fiery death of two people overnight. (Anne Arundel Daily Voice)

An Elkton man is facing up to 50 years in prison after a jury found the defendant guilty of four criminal charges relating to him beating his girlfriend over a three-day period in January. (The Cecil Whig)

A judge has found a former Catholic high school wrestling coach in Baltimore County not guilty on charges of child sex abuse. (WBAL 1090)

A Wicomico County man has been sentenced to life plus 25 years of incarceration for sexual abuse of a minor, sexual offense in the second degree and related charges. (Delmarva Now)

A widespread outage in Maryland led to trouble for some Verizon users looking to make an emergency call on Friday morning. (Anne Arundel Daily Voice)

A former Montgomery County School department head pleads guilty to misconduct in office. (WTOP)

On one day last weekend, nearly a third of the Baltimore City Fire Department’s engine and truck companies were out of service due to shortages of personnel. (Baltimore Banner)

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A third straight loss for the Orioles last night at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer struggled with his command and the offense struggled at the plate in an 8-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins in the opening game of a weekend series. (Camden Chat)

Struggling O’s reliever Keegan Akin has been placed on the 15-day injured list. (Baltimore Sun)

Darren Drozdov, a former defensive lineman at the University of Maryland who later enjoyed a career in professional wrestling, died Friday, World Wrestling Entertainment announced. He was 54. (Baltimore Sun)

The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) on Friday announced the addition of former Orioles Brad Brach and Mike Devereaux and Baltimore reporter Jason La Canfora to its broadcast team. (Baltimore Sun)

Henry Hasselbeck, the son of former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, announced Friday that he’s decommitting from Maryland lacrosse and will instead play football at Michigan State. (Baltimore Sun)

Keyshawn Flowers, a Class of 2024 linebacker from Archbishop Spalding who courted 27 Division I offers, surprised the college recruiting world Friday by announcing he’s staying home and committing to the University of Maryland.

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With the legalization of recreational marijuana use becoming law in Maryland beginning today, we look back at the Prohibition Era in the state more than a hundred years ago…specifically the advent of bootleggers in St. Mary’s County…