Leaders of the Maryland's Legislative Black Caucus told medical marijuana regulators in a closed door meeting Tuesday they were outraged about the lack of diversity among winners of preliminary licenses to grow and process the drug in the state, according to several people in the meeting.
Del. Cheryl Glenn, a Baltimore Democrat, reiterated her position that the caucus would do everything in its power to stop final licenses to from being awarded unless more people of color won licenses.
On several instances during the two-hour meeting in Annapolis, raised voices could be heard from inside the meeting room.
Harry "Buddy" Robshaw, vice chair of the Medical Cannabis Commission, said after the meeting: "We heard that message, and the commitment is there for us to work with them to do what we can to improve the situation."
Glenn and other lawmakers said they tried to seek answers about why the commission did not follow a state law that required it to "actively seek" racial and ethic diversity among license holders.
Commissioners have said they relied on a letter of advice from the Attorney General's Office. Lawmakers cast doubt Tuesday on whether the commission interpreted the letter correctly.
Lawmakers have threatened emergency legislation to halt, retool or upend the process of awarding medical marijuana. With 45 members, the black caucus represents a substantial political force in the 188-member General Assembly.
Glenn said the caucus has not decided on a course of action, but she said there were widespread problems with the medical marijuana licensing program. Two companies who were denied a preliminary license filed a lawsuit after the commission dropped them out of the top 15-ranked growers in order to elevate two other companies and achieve "geographic diversity."
Del. Talmadge Branch, a Baltimore Democrat who is also majority whip in the House of Delegates, said the fact that most of the licenses went to companies led by wealthy white men should trouble anyone in Maryland, where African-Americans make up about 30 percent of the state population.
"That's just not the right thing to do," Branch said. "You have to be fair."
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