UPDATE: Md. lawmakers introduce bills to legalize marijuana

Maryland lawmakers have introduced legislation to regulate and tax marijuana for adult use.

The proposal, introduced Monday, consists of two bills in the form of regulation and taxes.

The regulation bill is being sponsored by District 18 Senator Richard Madaleno, Jr. and District 43 Delegate Curt Anderson. It would make possession and home cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis legal for adults 21 years of age and older.

Another bill would enact taxes on non-medical marijuana.

It would initially enact an excise tax of 30 dollars per ounce, which would generally be paid by cultivators, and a 9 percent sales tax on retail cannabis sales. This is the same as the sales tax rate on alcohol. 

District 20 Senator Will Smith says tax revenue would be used to cover the cost of administering the program.

The remaining revenue would be allocated to schools, workforce development programs, treatment and prevention, and combating impaired driving; however, he says he does expect to face pushback.

"I think it's going to be a very rigorous discussion in both the House and the Senate as it has been with the eight other states that have already gone ahead and set up this framework, but we're ready for it," says Senator Smith. "I think it's time."

Smith says the bills are expected to have hearings sometime in the next two weeks.

The General Assembly decriminalized marijuana in 2014. People caught with less than 10 grams are now issued a $100 ticket. The fine increases to $500 for repeat offenses.