There is created as an integral part of the government of the County, Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board.

The purpose of the Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board shall be to issue monies from the funds distributed to Prince George's County from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund pursuant to section 1-322 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code; and make policy recommendations to the County Executive and County Council.

In this Division the following terms shall have the denoted meanings: Area Median Income means the median household income for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area as estimated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, adjusted by household size based on the occupancy standard for the unit. Board means the Cannabis Reinvestment and Restoration Board. Community-Based Organization means a public or private company, corporation, limited liability company, neighborhood group, organization, or partnership that provides education, vocational education or rehabilitation, job training, health, social services, or economic uplift to individuals in the County. Demonstrated Knowledge means an individual who has displayed competency in a subject, as demonstrated by: publishing written material, delivering programmatic offerings to the public, or creating and providing to the public educational materials. Disproportionately Impacted Area means a geographic area identified by the Office of Social Equity that has had above 150% of the State's 10-year average for cannabis possession charges. Fund means the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund pursuant to section 1-322 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code. Heavily Impacted by the Criminal Justice System means those who have been incarcerated or detained in a prison, immigration detention center, local jail, juvenile detention center, or any other carceral setting, those who have been convicted of a felony but not incarcerated, and those who have been charged but not convicted of a felony. Low-Income Community means a community where the average household income is less than eighty percent (80%) of the Area Median Income. White Supremacy means the belief, theory, or doctrine that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them.

Member Appointments. The Board shall be comprised of thirteen (13) members appointed by the County Council and County Executive pursuant to Section 402 of the County Charter: The County Council shall appoint nine (9) members representing each of the nine (9) councilmanic districts. The County Executive shall appoint four (4) members as follows: One (1) member from a Community-Based Organization that works with a Low-Income Community; One (1) member from a service provider to incarcerated individuals or individuals with criminal(s) record(s); One (1) member from the Office of Management and Budget to serve as an ex officio member, and One (1) member who has been Heavily Impacted by the Criminal Justice System. Requirements for Appointment. An individual who is interested in becoming an appointed member of the Board must submit an application describing the individual's demonstrated knowledge of one (1) or more of the following to the elected office that he or she is seeking an appointment from: The history of the resistance of people of African descent to White Supremacy, enslavement, Jim Crow laws, and other examples of racial violence and discrimination; The history of the resistance of racial, ethnic, and other minority groups against discrimination, violence, and inequality; The needs of individuals returning to the community after incarceration; The impact of the disproportionate enforcement of drug laws on the quality of life experience by racial and ethnic minorities, especially people of African descent, including specialization in: The disruption of families; Exposure to the prison system; Trauma experienced as a result of community and police violence; or Another similar factor contributing to quality of life; and Methods for delivering community investment that empower marginalized people to have a voice in the distribution of resources.

Generally. The initial terms of voting members shall be staggered so as follows: Three (3) members appointed by the Council shall serve initial terms of two (2) years; Three (3) members appointed by the Council shall serve initial terms of three (3) years; Three (3) members appointed by the Council shall serve initial terms of four (4) years; and Four (4) members appointed by the County Executive shall serve initial terms of four (4) years. After the expiration of the initial terms, all members shall serve four-year (4) terms. A member whose term has expired holds over until a successor is appointed. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms. Any member that serves an initial term of less than four (4) years may serve an additional two (2) consecutive full terms. Removal. Any member may be removed from the Commission, if three-fourths (¾) of the Board members move to remove a member for neglect of duty or misconduct in office; or as otherwise provided for in the Charter. Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled for an unexpired term in the manner of original appointment.

One (1) member of the Board shall be elected as chair by majority vote of the members of the Board.

The Board must meet at the call of the chair as frequently as required to perform its duties, but not less than one (1) time each quarter of the calendar year. All meetings shall comply with the Maryland Open Meetings Act and this Code. A simple majority of the voting members of the Board shall serve as a quorum. An affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.

Each member of the Board shall be compensated subject to the availability and appropriation on monies allocated from the State to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Subtitle 2, Division 24, of this Code.

The members of the Board shall: Develop and administer a public process for interested entities or organizations to apply for monies from the Fund. The Board shall prioritize requests from: Community-Based Organizations offering services and programs intended to benefit Low-Income Communities; or Community-Based organizations that have been historically underfunded; or Community-based Organizations offering services in Disproportionately Impacted Areas. Develop recommendations, with community input, for the use of the Fund for the upcoming fiscal year; and deliver a summary of awards to the County Council for approval by Resolution prior to disbursing any monies from the Fund. Make recommendations to the County Executive and County Council regarding repairing the damage done to communities most impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of the Cannabis prohibition determined by the Office of the Attorney General. The Board shall issue Reports subject to Section 2-171.

As required by section 1-322(b)(2)(ii) of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article of the Maryland Code: Beginning on December 1, 2024, and every two (2) years thereafter, the Board shall create and publish the report explaining how the funds received from the Fund were spent during the immediately preceding two (2) fiscal years and the report shall be submitted to the following recipients: The Governor, The State Budget and taxation Committee, The House Appropriations Committee, The County Executive, The County Council, The Office of Management and Budget, and Any other entity required by State law. The Board shall prepare an annual report detailing the: (a) recommendations of Section 2-170(b), (b) summary of applicants, and (c) the final distribution of monies from the Fund for the prior fiscal year. The report shall be delivered to the County Executive and County Council by November 1, 2024 and each November 1 thereafter. Each member of the Board shall submit a financial disclosure statement in accordance with and pursuant to section 2-294, Division 17, Subtitle 2 of the County Code.