Commentary

Saturday marks the legalization of adult recreational cannabis use in Maryland, and much attention will be paid — likely for weeks to come — about this historic change in state law and the challenges it poses to producers, regulators, families and law enforcement. Medicinal marijuana use was approved a decade ago in Maryland, but the march toward recreational legalization was slow, even as the state came to grips with its unusually high incarceration rate for cannabis possession (ranking fifth among states as recently as 2010), and the damage this had wrought, particularly on low-income predominantly Black communities.

Over 23 years ago, when I ran for Congress, I emphasized three key issues on the campaign trail. One was banning handguns, which Republicans turned into “common sense gun control,” which has morphed into nothingness. Another was increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour — a living wage then, but where are we today with 23 years of inflation behind us?

Look out: Here comes Sheila Dixon again. The one-time Baltimore mayor, who twice came close to regaining the office she departed in scandal 13 years ago, apparently wants to make a third run at a political comeback. During an hourlong appearance on a Fox 45 “town hall” that no one but Dixon and host Armstrong Williams attended — no studio audience, no calls from viewers — the former mayor said there was a “strong possibility” she’ll be a candidate in next May’s Democratic primary.

There is a memorial by the water in Annapolis: five granite pillars bounded by a curving brick wall. Most days, people walk past without giving it much more than a glance. Wednesday will be different. The city will host a morning ceremony at the Guardians of the First Amendment memorial, marking five years since journalists Rob Hiaasen, Wendi Winters, Gerald Fischman, John McNamara and Rebecca Smith were killed in the Capital Gazette newsroom.

ChatGPT, its GPT-4 iteration and the broader advancement of generative AI are raising the stakes for companies that are expected to incorporate this technology. CEOs, boards and top executives in such a spot should step back and meet the challenge with a big picture approach that systematizes a set of proven strategies. AI as the next competitive weapon for business relevancy, and profitability means companies must transform from digital enterprises to intelligent enterprises.

In my experience with community organizing, labor organizing and political campaigns, we often use a 1-5 ranking scale to assess people’s support for a cause. One equals strong support, 2 equals support, 3 equates with neutrality or unknown support, 4 means opposition and 5 equals strong or coordinated opposition.

Mississippi is far ahead of Maryland in initiatives to teach all children to read. We Marylanders should be aghast and ashamed. How come deep south Mississippi, with the highest child poverty rate in the country, ranks side by side with Maryland in the middle tier of states in fourth grade reading scores? More startling, how come between 2011 and 2022, Mississippi ranks first among states in gains in fourth grade reading while Maryland is tied for last?