The Maryland General Assembly recently punted the question of whether to legalize recreational cannabis to the public to be decided in November by a referendum. However, that vote will occur at a time when many medical cannabis businesses already exist in Maryland. Accordingly, not only is there a question as to whether Maryland will legalize recreational cannabis, but there are also many questions associated with how such legalization will affect existing Maryland medical cannabis licensees. For example, will Maryland medical cannabis licensees be permitted to grow, process and dispense recreational cannabis?

A Maryland energy company and Frostburg State University have received grants from the Maryland Energy Administration to jointly explore the feasibility of converting a coal plant to house a small nuclear reactor to generate electricity. The Rockville-based company, X-energy, develops advanced small modular reactors, or SMRs. The nuclear reactors, smaller than conventional reactors, are designed to be built off-site and transported to the installation location. Proponents maintain they are safer and more cost-effective than conventional reactors.

Crafts, entertainment, ice cream, fireworks and farm animals will be on hand at the 125th Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair, which opens this weekend. The weeklong fair, which has been held since 1897, runs through Aug. 5 with activities at the Carroll County Agriculture Center, 706 Agricultural Center Drive in Westminster. Admission is free, but parking is $5 after 4 p.m. Parking will be free all day on Sunday. According to a history published in the 1997 Carroll County Fair Guide, the current version of the fair traces its roots to a picnic held Aug. 14, 1897, at the Otterdale Schoolhouse, in Taneytown. The fair moved to Westminster in 1954, to what is now known as the Carroll County Agriculture Center.

I stopped by my local Starbucks the other day to congratulate the baristas: Theirs is the second Albany-area store to join a union. I said, “Nice work,” but I really meant “Thank you.” They’re helping me face the day with a shot of something more invigorating than coffee: good news. American workers are standing up for themselves in encouraging numbers. More than 300 Starbucks stores nationwide have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to hold a representation election. In 201 of those stores — across 32 states — pro-union forces have won. Just over 40 have lost.

Election workers will begin counting roughly 2,500 provisional ballots at 10 a.m. Wednesday, potentially moving the needle in Anne Arundel County primary races that remain too close to call. In all, there are 8,020 outstanding ballots — 5,459 Democratic and 2,561 Republican. A final canvass is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday. Following last week’s canvass of 13,683 mail-in ballots, Republican candidate for county executive Jessica Haire held a lead over Herb McMillan of about 1,100 votes. While some primary races for statewide office have been called, including the Democratic and Republican nominations for governor (Wes Moore and Dan Cox, respectively), comptroller (Brooke Lierman and Barry Glassman, respectively) and attorney general (Anthony Brown and Michael Peroutka, respectively), others are still yet to be decided.

Bestselling author and nonprofit leader Wes Moore could hardly have written a more compelling plot line for his victory in the Maryland Democratic primary for governor. Thirteen months ago, when Mr. Moore declared his candidacy, he was the political outsider in a state where voters have often preferred government experience. And among his opponents were: a former state attorney general (Doug Gansler), the state’s current comptroller (Peter Franchot), a former chair of the Democratic National Committee and former U.S. labor secretary (Tom Perez), a former county executive (Rushern Baker III), and a former U.S. Department of Education secretary (John King Jr.).

Author and former nonprofit leader Wes Moore claimed the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, calling his matchup against Republican state Del. Dan Cox “a choice between unity and division.” Moore, 43, surrounded by Democratic elected officials and allies, addressed the media in Baltimore on Saturday. The Associated Press declared him the winner on Friday night as mail-in votes were being counted. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Moore’s closest rival, conceded on Saturday, saying, “Now is the time for us to unite.”