Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the Governor’s office announced, is set to sign an Executive Order Monday to pardon more than 175,000 marijuana convictions.

The state’s administration describes the pardons made as the largest ever. Maryland is the first state in the country to pardon cases related to paraphernalia use, according to his office.

The Washington Post reported the pardons for approximately 100,000 people who were charged with low-level marijuana offenses.

Moore will sign the executive orders Monday morning at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis, with Attorney General Anthony Brown present.

Maryland legalized recreational cannabis in 2023, after the voters approved a constitution amendment with 67% of votes in 2022. Maryland decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use on January 1, 2023. Now, 24 States and the District of Columbia are legalizing recreational cannabis.

The governor’s office stated that the Moore-Miller Administration was committed to promoting justice and social equity, and making sure it is administered fairly and equally. Marylanders shouldn’t be denied housing, employment or education opportunities because of convictions for conduct which is no more illegal.

Brown, a Democrat from New York, said that the pardons were “certainly overdue for a country” and “a racial justice issue.”

Brown told The Post that “while the pardons are available to everyone who has a misdemeanor conviction of possession of paraphernalia or marijuana, it is without doubt, or reservation, disproportionately affecting — in a positive way — Black or Brown Marylanders.”

The order will affect more than 150 000 misdemeanors convictions for simple cannabis possession. It will also cover over 18000 misdemeanors convictions for possession or use of drug paraphernalia with the intent to use it, according to the summary provided by the Governor’s Office.

Pardons are based on the number of convictions. Pardons may be granted to individuals who have more than one conviction.

Pardons do not mean that anyone will be released from prison.

The Maryland Judiciary, after Moore signs the pardon will update each electronic docket with an entry that the conviction was pardoned. This process should take two weeks or so, according to the Governor’s Office.

The order of the governor also directs that the state corrections office develop a procedure to indicate a partial pardon on a criminal record. This process is expected to last about 10 months.

Pardons absolve individuals of the guilt for a criminal offence. Individuals do not have to take any actions to receive a pardon.

Pardoning is not the same as expunging. The Judiciary may note that an offense has been pardoned on the records, but it will still be on the records. The process of expungement involves destroying a criminal record and removing it completely from public records. This requires an extra step.