Maryland

With Independence Day right around the corner and high inflation threatening Americans’ financial independence, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s Most Independent States. This study follows WalletHub’s reports on the Best Places for 4^th of July Celebrations and Most Patriotic States.

To determine the most self-sufficient states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 39 metrics, which measure how dependent Americans are on the government and other people for finances, their jobs and personal vices. You can find highlights from the report below.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Office of Statewide Broadband is developing a plan for how the funding will be deployed through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Office of Statewide Broadband held four webinars and four outreach conferences this past spring to solicit feedback on what Marylanders and jurisdictions would like to see incorporated into the plan.

“Every Marylander should have access to high-speed Internet, which plays a pivotal role in shaping economic outcomes and is to equitable development today what water and sewer systems have been for the past 150 years,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The Office of Statewide Broadband is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and addressing disparities for residents across the state.”

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade:

“One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a devastating blow to basic rights of Americans by overturning Roe v. Wade in an outrageous and harmful decision that stripped away the fundamental right of individuals to control their own healthcare decisions. This decision set us back 50 years as we continue to witness the erosion of reproductive rights in anti-choice states across the country. The decision increased risks to the health and well-being of people throughout the nation, and erected more barriers to pursuing socioeconomic opportunities, with a disproportionate impact on people of color and those in overburdened communities.

Per the State or Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today addressed the Cannabis Regulators Association’s annual conference in Annapolis, where he reinforced the state’s commitment to promoting social equity and restorative justice in advance of the new adult recreational use cannabis market set to go live on July 1. The conference included 200 state regulators, advocacy organizations, and industry stakeholders.

“In the past, cannabis policy has been used as a cudgel to oppress, jail, and discriminate against our fellow citizens, especially people of color; and the war on drugs didn’t just fail, it made us weaker as a nation,” said Gov. Moore. “But now, we are writing a new chapter in the story of cannabis in America—a chapter focused on equity and economic growth. It’s time we moved away from this false choice that says we must pick an economy that is equitable or an economy that is growing—we can, and we will, do both.”

“Pride is about living openly and joyfully as the person you are and being able to celebrate your identity,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “This administration has demonstrated through recognition, representation, and above all else, through action, that our LGBTQIA+ community in Maryland is seen, valued, and respected. We will continue to fight hand-in-hand as allies to our LGBTQIA+ community to ensure Maryland is a state where every single person can live proudly as their authentic self.”

During a historic first six months in office, the Moore-Miller Administration has demonstrated support for LGBTQIA+ Marylanders and celebrated the contributions, resilience, courage, and joy of our LGBTQIA+ community.

Per the Comptroller of Maryland: Starting on July 1, 2023, adults can legally use cannabis for recreational purposes. Anyone purchasing cannabis products from a dispensary must show their government-issued ID to demonstrate they are 21 or older. A medical card is still required to purchase medical-use cannabis. Cannabis sales tax update:

If you have a medical-use cannabis card: