Annapolis, Maryland – Office of Social Equity Executive Director Audrey Johnson announced the release of the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund Survey Results Report, which provides insight into the preferences shared by Maryland residents regarding which type of community-based services and organizations should be the primary beneficiaries of the fund. The report also includes the percentage of the total amount that local jurisdictions will be allocated from the fund.
The Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, established by the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, allocates a portion of tax revenue generated from adult-use cannabis sales. The fund aims to provide support to communities disproportionately affected by prior cannabis prohibition enforcement. Management and administration of the fund is a partnership between the Office of Social Equity and the Office of the Comptroller. The fund also includes funds generated from license conversion fees paid by those businesses in the medical marijuana industry who were approved to transition into the adult-use cannabis market. The fund aims to provide support to communities disproportionately affected by prior cannabis prohibition enforcement.
“Today marks a pivotal step towards rectifying historical disparities,” said Office of Social Equity Executive Director Audrey Johnson. “Through inclusive community engagement, we’re charting a path that honors the voices and addresses the critical needs of those affected by past injustices, steering us towards a more equitable future.” 
In accordance with the Cannabis Reform Act, funds distributed to counties and Baltimore City were determined by the comparison of cannabis possession charges within each jurisdiction between July 1, 2002, and January 1, 2023, against the total charges across the state during the same period. Each county, along with Baltimore City, will have the autonomy to devise its own strategies for utilizing the allocated funds.
Under the directives of the Cannabis Reform Act, the Office of Social Equity was tasked with soliciting public input on potential fund utilization. Maryland counties and Baltimore City jurisdictions, community organizations and residents were invited to participate in the survey between November 1 and November 24 to contribute insights that may shape how the allocated Community Reinvestment and Repair Funds will be utilized within their communities.
The top three investment areas that respondents identified were:
- mental health and substance abuse services;
- education and after-school programs; and
- housing and homelessness prevention services.
The report also includes the percentage of the total amount that local jurisdictions will be allocated from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund. The Office of the Comptroller of Maryland will provide information about the first quarter sales and use tax revenues remitted to the State for the retail of adult-use cannabis, including the total amount of revenues that will be disbursed to the fund, at a future date.
“Transparency is crucial to earning and maintaining the public trust, and my team and I are committed to ensuring Marylanders understand what taxes are collected and where that money is going,” said Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman. “We appreciate the opportunity to be a partner in the work of administering this new segment of our state’s economy. Our agency is working to ensure accurate accounting of cannabis tax revenue and to ensure the funds benefit communities unduly impacted by outdated and biased policies.”
74% of survey respondents expressed that the reinvestment of cannabis tax revenue into communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs was important to them.
About the Cannabis Reform Act
The Cannabis Reform Act of 2023 signifies a transformative step for Maryland, legalizing adult-use cannabis effective July 1. This landmark legislation not only legalizes adult-use cannabis but also establishes the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund. Aimed at rectifying past disparities, the Act marks a progressive move toward equitable cannabis policies and community empowerment within Maryland. Under this law, the Comptroller of Maryland is responsible for collecting and disbursing sales and use tax revenue generated from the retail of adult-use cannabis in accordance with the Act.
About the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund
The Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund is designed to direct a percentage of tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales towards communities facing historic impacts due to the enforcement of cannabis prohibition.
About Office of Social Equity
The Office of Social Equity, an independent agency established by the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023, is charged with providing resources and support for historically disadvantaged individuals and businesses seeking to enter the adult-use cannabis market. The vital responsibilities of the office include implementing technical assistance programs for qualifying social equity applicants and licensees, reviewing regulations and laws through an economic equity and social justice lens, and supporting key programs including the Community Repair and Reinvestment Fund and the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund.
About the Comptroller’s Office of Maryland
The Comptroller’s Office of Maryland serves as a pivotal agency overseeing the state’s fiscal management and taxation. Responsible for efficiently collecting taxes, managing revenue, and ensuring compliance with tax laws, the Comptroller’s Office plays a crucial role in maintaining Maryland’s financial health. With a focus on transparency, fairness, and effective administration, the office strives to support economic vitality and government accountability while providing essential services to residents, businesses, and local jurisdictions across the state.
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Time to move to a normal state! Tired of all the liberal BS…Maryland is one of the worst states to retire in as well…the only problem is the liberals flee their own states to get away from the carnage they themselves voted for, then they vote the same way in their new home state, and will eventually ruin them as well…then scratch their heads and say “what happened”? The disease of liberalism is what happened!
Won’t find me in md on my retirement voting with my feet as the tax sunami s continue to hit marxist MD citizens in the face. As they continue to hand out freebies to anyone but people who work for a living..instead of the lazy freeloaders