From legalizing recreational marijuana to tax cuts for vets, here is glimpse at Md.’s new laws – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

Over 300 laws are set to go into effect Saturday — the same day that cannabis will be legalized for adult recreational use.

Lawmakers scrambled to pass emergency legislation to set up a taxation and regulatory system ahead of the impending legalization date to allow the first round of licensed retailers to have their businesses up and running.

The General Assembly also passed legislation that will prohibit police officers from conducting traffic stops and vehicle searches based only on the smell of marijuana. That law goes into effect next Saturday, too.

While many bills are taking effect as law Saturday, about 350 remaining bills won’t go into effect until Oct. 1.

Aside from those related to Maryland’s nascent recreational cannabis industry, here’s a look at a few other new laws that begin Saturday.

Tax cuts for veterans

Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, an Army veteran, had a successful first legislative session with the passage of all 10 of his priority bills.

One of those is the Keep Our Heroes Home Act, which goes into effect Saturday, will expand the amount of military retirement income exempt from state taxes from $15,000 to $20,000 for veterans 55 and older and from $5,000 to $12,500 for younger veterans next tax season.

“It’s not just that they deserve our support. It’s that they’ve earned it,” Moore said during a bill-signing ceremony in May at Martin State Airport. “We need them to keep serving and to keep calling Maryland home, and the best way to do that…