State Roundup: On the November ballot: Recreational marijuana and future of the Howard Orphans’ Court

An industry-backed campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Maryland launched Thursday, urging voters to pick “yes on 4,” the November ballot question about legalizing pot possession for adults 21 and over. Maryland’s Orphans’ Courts, which handle the administration of probate or the distribution of assets from someone’s estate after a death, are established by a part of the Maryland Constitution. Now, Howard County is looking to follow the example of Harford and Montgomery counties by amending the state Constitution to repeal the election of Orphans’ Court judges and allow Circuit Court judges to decide Orphans’ Court cases.