Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board Meeting – May 7, 2026

The Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board met on May 7, 2026 (the transcript references May 6, 2026, but the official date used is May 7, 2026 per the instruction). The meeting was called to order at 5:38 PM with quorum. Members present: Dr. Rachel Jordan, Natalie Doris, Dr. Ron Garrett, Crystal Carpenter, Andrew Pierce, and later Bianca Mills joined. The board approved previous meeting minutes, discussed legal requirements for fund use, administrative expenses, community engagement plans, and formed subcommittees for grant categories.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve the previous meeting minutes was made and seconded. No opposition. Minutes were approved as submitted.

Discussion Items

• Legal Requirements for Fund Use (Zip Codes): Mr. Maddox presented the legal basis for the fund, citing Maryland Code section 1-3A-03 and 36-101. The fund may only be used for community-based initiatives serving disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), defined by the Office of Social Equity as 18 specific zip codes in Prince George’s County. The board clarified that the recipient organization does not need to be located in those zip codes, but the services must be provided there. Members discussed whether to prioritize Prince George’s County-based businesses and whether the DIA zip codes cover all low-income communities. Mr. Maddox confirmed that the law requires funds to be used only for those 18 zip codes; any other interpretation is not permissible. The board noted that Prince George’s County has 18 impacted zip codes, indicating a high level of historical impact from cannabis enforcement.

• Administrative Expenses and Grant Administration: Andrew Pierce presented draft language for administrative expenses, proposing that the board be supported by a county executive designated agency. The original draft mentioned the health department, but after discussion, the board preferred to keep the language broad. Dr. Garrett and others urged that the board should separately recommend that the council’s grants office administer the funds, to avoid delays. Ms. Rogers (grants office) confirmed her office has capacity to handle grant administration, with a typical 6–8 week cycle. The board agreed to move forward with legislation that allows administrative expenses (up to 15% of annual revenues, ~$2M) and to submit a separate recommendation to the county executive to designate the grants office.

• Community Engagement and Public Hearings: The board discussed holding public town halls to gather community input on fund priorities, as required by legislation. Members favored hybrid (in-person and virtual) sessions, with at least three meetings across the county. Dr. Jordan suggested a soft structure for the hearings to keep focus on the board’s mission. Ms. Rogers offered to coordinate scheduling via the county’s tech team. The board agreed to finalize dates by email and to develop a presentation outline for the next meeting. Concerns about potential conflicts with primary election season were noted.

• Subcommittee Categories: The board debated the grant categories used by other counties (Anne Arundel and Montgomery). After discussion, members voted to approve six categories for Prince George’s County: 1) Mental Health and Substance Use Services, 2) Education, Youth Enrichment, and After-School Activities, 3) Housing and Homeless Prevention Services, 4) Workforce Development and Employment Training, 5) Justice Involved, and 6) Accessibility and Public Transportation. The motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Vote: The board voted unanimously to approve the six subcommittee categories as listed above.
• Subcommittee Leads Assigned:
  • Mental Health and Substance Use: Dr. Rachel Jordan
  • Housing and Homeless Prevention: Natalie Doris
  • Justice Involved: Bianca Mills
  • Accessibility and Public Transportation: (volunteer from the board, later assigned to Crystal Carpenter? Actually, the transcript shows Crystal Carpenter offered to help with communications, and the lead for accessibility was taken by a member – unclear who. The summary can state that leads were assigned, but not all named. To be accurate, we note that leads were assigned for most categories, with workforce development and education remaining open. The board agreed to contact missing members.
• Next Meeting: Scheduled for May 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The board discussed shifting to a later time (6:00 PM) to accommodate members.
• Administrative Legislation: The board agreed to proceed with draft legislation that allows administrative expenses from the fund, with the administering agency designated by the county executive. A separate recommendation to designate the council’s grants office will be submitted.
• Financial Disclosure: Members expressed difficulty with the online financial disclosure system. Ms. Rogers offered to provide a contact person for assistance.
• Meeting Adjourned: 7:09 PM.