Montgomery County Councilmembers created the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund Commission Tuesday which will specify how funds received through the state’s medical and retail sales of cannabis are allocated.
During the first 12 months following legalization in Maryland, more than $1.1 billion was added to the state’s coffers, which will be distributed partially to the counties.
Montgomery County government will not have a say on how those funds will be spent. That will be the job of the newly created commission.
None of the money will be allocated to the Montgomery County Police Department. Instead, those organizations and people most directly hurt by marijuana drug laws will be granted the money.
Councilmember Kristin Mink called the forthcoming allocations “reparations” and an attempt to make amends to minority communities who were most affected by drug laws.
“This is a really important bill. it’s long overdue,” added Councilmember Will Jawando. It will help Black males who were incarcerated at a high rate, he said.
The commission members are expected to distribute the funds to community-based initiatives that are intended to benefit low-income communities and serve disproportionately impacted areas.
The commission will consist of 13 voting members and the Department of Health and Human Services director, who would be non-voting ex-officio member.
Eleven of the voting members must live in the county and at least one must represent a service provider for incarcerated people or people with a criminal record. One member must have been incarcerated or have a criminal history.
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