Leonardtown, MD — Should growing marijuana for medical purposes be allowed in Southern Maryland? A commission established by the Maryland General Assembly – The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission – has proposed regulations for the production and dispensing of marijuana. That is being made possible by the passage of House Bill 490 in the 2015 Maryland General Assembly and its signing into law by Governor Larry Hogan.

Proposed regulations have been published. According to the commission’s website, it is anticipated that the regulations will be adopted next month and the regulatory process for approving applications for growing and dispensing medical marijuana to take place after that. The commission anticipates “medical cannabis could become available to patients in the second half of 2016.”

So, with the process about to begin, potential growers are coming out of the woodwork in Maryland and scouting for sites for growing. Southern Maryland, with its history of growing tobacco, has been targeted. Several of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have been approached to get reaction to the idea. Two of them, Mike Hewitt [R – 2nd District] and John O’Connor [R – 3rd District], say they are opposed to it at this time.

O’Connor during the commissioners’ regular Aug. 4 meeting said he was concerned about the potential law enforcement aspects of the business. He said banks won’t deal with marijuana operations, even though they are legal, forcing them into being strictly a cash business that could be subject to enforcement issues.

O’Connor also said that the fields would have to be guarded to protect them from theft, adding an extra burden on local law enforcement. St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron [R] opposed the law decriminalizing small quantities of marijuana.

O’Connor said he also had moral issues with legalizing marijuana. But he said he left open a small chance to change his mind, particularly if marijuana is legalized nationally.

Commissioner President Randy Guy [R] said he also has been approached with the idea. He said his initial reaction was to be against but he would keep an open mind on the subject.

According to Hewitt the proposed regulations allow for 12 growing fields in Maryland and 94 pharmacy dispensing locations. As Guy noted, someone in the state is going to be doing it, whether it is in Southern Maryland or not.

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@the baynet.com