Press Release: “Question Four Seed Score” Coming to 17 Locations Throughout Maryland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 29, 2023

CONTACT:
Kris Furnish, 720-607-8369
Kris@MDMJ.org

*** ATTN: UPDATED SEED GIVEAWAY LOCATIONS ***

Maryland Marijuana Justice Boosts Legal Home Cultivation of Cannabis with Massive Seed Giveaway

The Question Four Seed Score” Coming to
17 Locations Throughout Maryland

Handoff of 30,000 cannabis seeds from DC Citizens at Midnight July 1

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND  – Thanks to the resounding success of the Question 4 Referendum placed before Maryland voters in 2022, Maryland Marijuana Justice (MDMJ) will celebrate the first day of Maryland’s cannabis legalization with their upcoming Question 4 Seed Score at 17 volunteer-run sites across the state on Saturday, July 1. For the first part of the seed giveaway, the group will gather at 10pm, Friday, June 30 at the DC/Maryland border in Chevy Chase Circle.  MDMJ volunteers will then handoff over 30,000 viable cannabis seeds to location hosts at one minute past midnight

Starting at 12:00pm, ‘High Noon,’ on Saturday, July 1, cannabis seeds will be given away to adults aged 21 and over at 17 locations throughout the state. In addition to the seed giveaway, MDMJ has received a generous donation of 10,000 bars of Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One Chocolate, which is fair trade certified, organic certified, and vegan. The chocolate bars will be given away at most locations on a first come, first serve basis. While the company has generously supported cannabis legalization efforts across the United States, Dr. Bronner’s culinary and personal care products are family-friendly and safe to consume for all ages as their offerings are not infused with any controlled substances.

Local Baltimore rapper, ‘Henni The Stoner’, says he’s excited. “This is an opportunity to finally grow the one plant I love the most. I’m glad to see so many members of the community offering free education to new growers today and not depending on the government. People are being given the tools to grow this plant successfully. Learning to grow your own medicine is empowerment that can’t be taken away from us” he said.

“July 1 is an historic day we have all been anxiously awaiting. Marylanders no longer have to live in fear of possessing and growing a healing plant that has benefited so many people,” says Kris Furnish, co-founder of MDMJ. “This law celebrates freedom from financial obstacles and will, at last, allow our ‘Free State’ to be free of the real danger — which is prohibition,” adds Furnish.

For more information about the Question 4 Seed Score visit: www.MDMJ.org

For location updates, sign up here: bit.ly/3iSqUMf


MDMJ is a community organization dedicated to fighting for cannabis consumers, cultivators, workers, patients, and their families. MDMJ began lobbying in Maryland in 2018 to support passage of adult-use cannabis laws in the Free State. Since then, MDMJ has been active in Annapolis and across the state, educating the public and advocating for systemic changes in drug policy.

MDMJ backs full legalization, including releasing all cannabis prisoners, and the right to cultivate cannabis in the privacy and comfort of our homes, as well as reforming and filling harmful or outdated holes within the criminal justice system. The group was launched in Salisbury, Maryland in 2018, playing a pivotal role in key races on the Eastern Shore by supporting candidates that are friendly to cannabis legalization. 

MDMJ is a sister organization of District of Columbia Marijuana Justice (DCMJ), Colorado Marijuana Justice (COMJ), Virginia Marijuana Justice (VAMJ), and New York Marijuana Justice (NYMJ).


 *** UPDATED QUESTION 4 SEED SCORE  LOCATIONS ***
(All events start at 12:00PM unless another time is indicated below)

County Location Address
Baltimore County Nature Isle Hydro & Gardening 11550 Philadelphia Road #106,
White Marsh, MD 21162
Baltimore County Hazy Daze Smoke Shop 10621 York Road,
Cockeysville, MD 21030
Baltimore City Rosedale Park Pavilion 1246 Kendrick Road,
Rosedale, MD 21237
Baltimore City Urban Reads Bookstore Starting at 3PM
3008 Greenmount Avenue,
Baltimore MD 21218
Carroll County All Good Garden Supply 3150 Baltimore Boulevard,
Finksburg, MD 21048
Montgomery County Silver Spring Metro 8400 Colesville Road,
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Montgomery County Private Residence 1700 Ashton Road,
Ashton, MD 20861
 
Harford County Urban Organics 6360 S Hanover Road, Suite M,
Elkridge, MD 21075
Prince George’s County The Show Room 610 Lafayette Avenue,
Laurel, MD 20707
Prince George’s County Private Residence 6711 Farmer Drive,
Fort Washington, MD 20744
Prince George’s County Private Residence Starting at 4PM
4602 Queensbury Road,
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
St. Mary’s County Shiva’s Smoke Shop 29015 Three Notch Road, Unit 10,
Mechanicsville, MD 20659
Wicomico County Smoke Art 1305 S Division Street, Unit 14,
Salisbury, MD 21804
Frederick County FingerBoard Farm 10240 Fingerboard Road,
Ijamsville, MD 21754
Harford County Rock Ridge Picnic Area 3900 Saint Clair Bridge Road,
Jarrettsville, MD 21154
Anne Arundel County Gateway Health Care Medical 5851 Deale-Churchton Road,
Deale, MD 20751
Caroline County Purple Peake CBD Shop 322 Market Street, Suite 101,
Denton, MD 21629

# # #

Click here to download a PDF of this press release

Press Release: Maryland Marijuana Justice Celebrates Legalization With Massive Seed Giveaway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 22, 2023

CONTACT:
Kris Furnish, 720-607-8369
Kris@MDMJ.org

Maryland Marijuana Justice Boosts Legal Home Cultivation of Cannabis with Massive Seed Giveaway

“The Question Four Seed Score” Coming to Multiple Locations Throughout Maryland on July 1

Handoff of 30,000 cannabis seeds from DC Citizens at Midnight July 1

ANNAPOLIS, MD —On Saturday, July 1, 2023, Maryland Marijuana Justice (MDMJ) will celebrate the first day of Maryland’s cannabis legalization with their upcoming Question 4 Seed Score at volunteer-run sites across the state. The first part of the seed giveaway will include a handoff to MDMJ volunteers of over 30,000 viable cannabis seeds. The handoff will take place on the DC and Maryland border at Chevy Chase Circle at one minute past midnight on Saturday, July 1. Then, starting at ‘high noon’, cannabis seeds will be given away to adults over 21 at 13 locations throughout the state.

Thanks to the resounding success of the Question 4 referendum placed before Maryland voters in 2022, adults in Maryland will be allowed to grow up to two cannabis plants at home for personal use, and Maryland’s medical cannabis patients will be allowed to grow up to four plants. While this is a positive step forward, MDMJ believes that this plant limit is not enough to meet the needs of many Maryland residents who rely on cannabis for medicinal purposes or who simply want to grow for their family.

“Is cannabis really legal if growing more than two plants will result in three years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine?,” asked Nekeidra Cromwell, a MDMJ volunteer, “This policy only benefits the few cannabis companies permitted to grow and sell a product consumers can produce at home for themselves – shouldn’t my rights as a citizen and consumer come before the state-sponsored oligopoly?”

“Two to four plants are simply inadequate for people who consume an average amount of cannabis,” said Steve Ellmore, a Prince George’s county resident, founder of The Unprescribed and MDMJ volunteer. “Plants have a life cycle from seed to vegetation to flower. If a plant fails, you have to start the whole process over, leaving patients without medicine for several months.”

Furthermore, Maryland’s cannabis law essentially creates a two-tiered system with respect to cannabis, where medical cannabis patients will be treated differently than non-medical cannabis users. MDMJ believes this will increase enforcement complexity and disparate treatment of cannabis users.

“A uniform ‘personal use’ standard for all adults across the state is easier for everyone involved and would put Maryland on par with Virginia and DC – failure to make this change would leave Maryland citizens under the most punitive system in the region with the highest risk of otherwise avoidable police encounters.” says Luke Jones, a Montgomery County resident and Executive Director of Maryland NORML.

“Maryland must not impose criminal penalties that restrict personal freedoms without sufficient public health or public safety justification. Allowing adults to produce their own cannabis at home for non-commercial purposes poses no social risk that warrants criminal prosecution.” said Eric E. Sterling, resident of Montgomery County and recently retired founding Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation (1989-2020).

Local Baltimore rapper, ‘Henni The Stoner’, says he’s excited. “This is an opportunity to finally grow the one plant I love the most. I’m glad to see so many members of the community offering free education to new growers today and not depending on the government. People are being given the tools to grow this plant successfully. Learning to grow your own medicine is empowerment that can’t be taken away from us.” he said.

For location updates, sign up here: bit.ly/3iSqUMf


MDMJ is dedicated to fighting for cannabis consumers, cultivators, workers, patients, and their families. MDMJ began lobbying in Maryland in 2018 to support passage of adult-use cannabis laws in the Free State. Since then, MDMJ has been active in Annapolis and across the state, educating the public and advocating for systemic changes in drug policy.

MDMJ backs full legalization, including releasing all cannabis prisoners, and the right to cultivate cannabis in the privacy and comfort of our homes, as well as reforming and filling harmful or outdated holes within the criminal justice system. The group was launched in Salisbury, Maryland in 2018, playing a pivotal role in key races on the Eastern Shore by supporting candidates that are friendly to cannabis legalization.

MDMJ is a sister organization of District of Columbia Marijuana Justice (DCMJ), Colorado Marijuana Justice (COMJ), Virginia Marijuana Justice (VAMJ), and New York Marijuana Justice (NYMJ).

# # #

Click here to download a PDF of this press release

June Zoom Sesh

Join us for our next Zoom Sesh on June 26nd, at 8PM. We’ll be discussing the latest updates on cannabis legislation in Annapolis and organizing for our upcoming ‘Question 4 Seed Score’ event happening on July 1. 

We will be providing important updates on the current state of cannabis laws in Maryland, including any recent developments or changes that may impact the cannabis community.

We’ll also be hosting a statewide seed share, where we will have the opportunity to connect with the cannabis community by giving away free cannabis seeds on the first day of legalization. (For folks who plan on volunteering on July 1, it’s important that you attend these meetings so we can better organize.)

Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis grower or an advocate for legalization, (or both!) this event will be a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and stay up-to-date on the latest cannabis news. So mark your calendars and join us for this exciting meeting!

To receive the agenda and Zoom link, please register here: bit.ly/3HaGZFD

Register for the upcoming Question 4 Seed Score here — http://bit.ly/3iSqUMf)

On the day of the Zoom Sesh, be sure to double check your spam folder because we have been informed that a few of our invite emails have unfortunately ended up there in the past. It doesn’t hurt to search for “MDMJ.org” because the email might show up with that search.

Questions or suggested agenda items? Please email info@mdmj.org

Question 4 Seed Score Hosted by MDMJ

Hey Maryland! It’s time to LEGALLY score some cannabis seeds! 

Saturday, July 1, 2023 marks the first day of cannabis legalization in the Free State of Maryland. In honor of this momentous occasion, MDMJ is hosting The Question 4 Seed Score to facilitate personal home cultivation of cannabis permitted under the new law. This will be Maryland residents’ opportunity to share seeds with other adults and start down the path of legally growing your own cannabis in the safety and privacy of your home.

Please register here to participate – bit.ly/3iSqUMf

The Question 4 Seed Score will be be taking place at multiple locations throughout the state. We hope to find one location in every county. We will announce the exact locations via email 1 day before the event, so make sure you register to receive the email.

MDMJ is looking for seed and clone donors and people that would like to host the seed share. If you’re interested, please sign up here – bit.ly/3iSqUMf

To ensure we have as many seeds and clones to give away, we are looking for as many donors as possible.

Can you provide support or volunteer your time on this historic day? Please sign up here: bit.ly/3iSqUMf

MDMJ will be planning monthly Zoom Sesh’s. Our next Zoom Sesh is scheduled for June 12th, so be sure to register here – bit.ly/3HaGZFD

Seed you there! 

INVITE: First Zoom Sesh of 2023 (2/27/23)

Throughout 2023 MDMJ is hosting periodic online gatherings. Our next Zoom Sesh is scheduled to commence at 6:00pm on Monday, February 27, 2023We’d love for you to join us!

To join the Zoom Sesh, please click here to register (required!). You can help spread the word by RSVPing on Facebook and inviting some of your friends.

We will send out a reminder email with the Zoom link and passcode to everyone who registers about one hour before the Zoom Sesh begins. Questions or suggested Agenda items? Please email info@MDMJ.org

Press Release: Don’t Be A Turkey, Pardon Cannabis Prisoners

president Biden pardon cannabis prisoners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 17, 2022

CONTACTS:
Nikolas Schiller, 202-643-3878
Kris Furnish, 720-607-8369
Press@DCMJ.org

Don’t Be A Turkey, Pardon Cannabis Prisoners

“Marijuana” Reform Groups Call on President Biden to Pardon Over 2,800 Federal Cannabis Prisoners, Not Turkeys.


WASHINGTON, DC — Pardoning turkeys before Thanksgiving has been an annual tradition at the White House since the Kennedy administration. This year DC Marijuana Justice (DCMJ), Maryland Marijuana Justice (MDMJ), Virginia Marijuana Justice (VAMJ), and New York Marijuana Justice (NYMJ) call on President Biden to show some grace for the 2,800 people serving time in federal prison for cannabis “crimes” and pardon cannabis inmates instead of pardoning turkeys.

“There are people serving life sentences for cannabis, and we want the President to honor his commitment to release everyone in prison for cannabis now,” says Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DCMJ and proposer of Initiative 71, which legalized cannabis in the District of Columbia in 2014. “These prisoners should be freed and allowed to come home for the holidays.”

Very few Americans are federally charged with “simple possession of cannabis” and none were serving time when the executive order was announced. “Just like the annual turkey pardon is ceremonial, so was President Biden’s recent marijuana pardon announcement in October,” said Kris Furnish, co-founder of MDMJ.  

“The turkeys that President Biden will pardon have names. So do the thousands of cannabis prisoners stuck in both federal and state jails.” says Nikolas Schiller, co-founder of DCMJ and founder of NYMJ. “We call on the President to go one step further and pardon Americans for all cannabis offenses such as distribution and cultivation. It’s these prisoners who need President Biden’s pardon the most,” concludes Schiller.

Cannabis reform advocates, including members from the Marijuana Justice Groups, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Last Prisoner Project, gathered outside the White House last month to call on President Biden to do more but the administration has done nothing further. Advocates believe that President Biden’s performative inaction is condemnable because the majority of Americans agree that cannabis should be federally legal, and people are serving unjustly long sentences for nonviolent cannabis “offenses”. 

“Pardoning turkeys instead of humans is offensive,” says RachelRamone Donlan, co-founder of VAMJ, who helped pass legalized cannabis in the Commonwealth. “There are thousands of human beings locked inside of cages, some serving life sentences for what is now legal, and it’s time for them to come home.”  

The power of pardoning has been used since George Washington, and was originally intended to right a wrong. It’s not a joke to those that desperately hope President Biden will keep his promises. 

“Although the American ceremony of pardoning turkeys is typically seen as a warm, lighthearted and well-loved, seasonal tradition, please remember families are missing their loved ones at the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day because they are incarcerated, as our president mocks a power that could ultimately unite these families,” said Eidinger. “There is nothing that we want more than to see President Biden keep his promises so that families can reunite and be together on Thanksgiving Day and everyday.”

Last year, at the annual turkey pardon, President Biden made the following remark concerning COVID, however, it rings true for bringing cannabis prisoners home.

“In all seriousness, it’s important to continue traditions like this to remind us how from the darkness, there’s light and hope and progress and – that’s what this year’s Thanksgiving, in my view, represents. So many of us will be gathering with our loved ones for the first time in a long time. And we’ll be reconnecting with traditions, with our tables and our hearts full of grace and gratitude for everyone who made it possible.” 

Unlike COVID, which we have very little power over, President Biden has full power to bring cannabis prisoners home.

# # #

Click here to download a PDF of this press release

MDMJ’s Statement on President Biden’s Pardon Pledge

STATEMENT FROM MDMJ

ON

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S

CANNABIS PARDON PLEDGE

Today’s announcement by President Biden is a seminal moment for cannabis reform in the United States. We applaud the White House for taking steps to undo the harms of the drug war for some people convicted of simple possession of cannabis.

However, we also call upon the President to do more. Very few Americans are federally charged with simple possession of cannabis and even fewer remain behind bars. In fact, there is no one currently in federal jail for simple cannabis possession. We call on the President to go one step further and pardon Americans convicted of other nonviolent cannabis offenses such as distribution and cultivation. It’s these prisoners who need President Biden’s pardon the most.

With respect to working with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice on rescheduling cannabis out of Schedule I, we call on the President to work with Congress to completely remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. Moving cannabis to Schedule II, where it would join cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, will still perpetuate the failed war on drugs and continue to allow adults to be arrested for possession, consumption, distribution, and cultivation. Simply put, we want cannabis to be entirely descheduled. As a natural plant, we believe cannabis should have never been placed in the CSA.

Earlier this week MDMJ, along with our sister chapters in DC, Virginia, and New York, had called upon President Biden to release 100 cannabis prisoners this month or we would join Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Last Prisoner Project in a series of demonstrations on October 24. This demonstration has not been canceled due to today’s announcement.

We are unaware of 100 cannabis prisoners being released at this time. Moreover, the demonstrations will continue to highlight the need for the White House to fully deschedule cannabis and the Democratic Party to take cannabis reform seriously. Like we seriously want Congress to pass full legalization and we seriously want to see the names of all cannabis prisoners who are being released. Today there are many cannabis growers and entrepreneurs who remain locked up because they were not charged with simple cannabis possession, but with cultivation and distribution. They used the plant to help feed their families and to help terminally-ill friends, and are considered heroes to many cannabis activists. They deserve pardons too.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 19, we are linking up with our sister groups for a special Zoom Sesh. Biden’s recent announcement will be one of our topics of discussion. Please put it on your calendar and join us!

WHO: Supporters of Releasing Cannabis Prisoners
WHAT: DCMJ / MDMJ / VAMJ / NYMJ Zoom Sesh – Civil Disobedience Edition
WHEN: 7pm EST, October 19, 2022
WHERE: Zoom (Click here to Register!)
WHY: President Biden needs to uphold his campaign promise and immediately release at least 100 cannabis prisoners

SOCIALRSVP on Facebook

Biden, Keep Your Promise!

Biden Keep Your Promise!

Next month we are linking up with the Last Prisoner Project and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) to conduct a series of actions aimed at pressuring President Biden to release the nation’s federal cannabis prisoners. We are seeking cannabis activists who are ready, willing, and able to escalate pressure on the president until all our cannabis prisoners are home.

The demand is simple: “Follow through on your campaign promise to release all cannabis prisoners or we will remind the nation of your creation of the problem through disrupting politics as usual across the country.”

Unless President Biden takes action next month, we plan to engage in non-violent civil disobedience in multiple waves on Monday, October 24 outside the White House and the Democratic Party National Headquarters. We hope you will join us!  

For more information check out the SSDP’s “Keep Your Promise” webpage.  For more information on the nuts and bolts of clemency work please visit the Last Prisoner Projects “Time to heal” page and join their letter writing campaign.

INVITE: December 7:10 Zoom Sesh

It’s been a while since we were all able to get together, and we miss you! We’ve got to get ready for next months rally in Annapolis! Join our December 710 Zoom Sesh 7:09pm on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. We’d love for you to join us!

To join the December 710 Zoom Sesh, please click here to register (required!). You can help spread the word by RSVPing on Facebook and inviting some of your friends. We will send out a reminder email with the Zoom link and passcode to everyone who registers about one hour before the 710 Zoom Sesh begins. Questions or suggested Agenda items? Please email info@mdmj.org

INVITE: September 7:10 Zoom Sesh

Throughout the rest of 2021 MDMJ is hosting monthly online gatherings. Our next Zoom Sesh is scheduled to commence at 7:10pm on Wednesday, September 22, 2021We’d love for you to join us!

To join the September Zoom Sesh, please click here to register (required!). You can help spread the word by RSVPing on Facebook and inviting some of your friends. We will send out a reminder email with the Zoom link and passcode to everyone who registers about one hour before the 7:10 Zoom Sesh begins. Questions or suggested Agenda items? Please email info@mdmj.org