Shots Fired: Former Black Caucus staffer calls out his former boss in an op-ed criticizing her legislative victory

By: Hassan Giordano/Andy Pierre

It was roughly a year and half ahead of the 2014 gubernatorial elections when two-term state delegate Cheryl Glenn granted me an opportunity to sit down with her in her Annapolis office, to discuss everything from her intentions to run for re-election to her push to legalize medical marijuana. And my film guy and producer was none other than her future executive director, Mr. Andy Pierre.

The East Baltimore state legislator gave us hours of footage, discussing the good, the bad and the not so pretty nature of state politics, as she was entering her seventh legislative session, laser focused on getting a medical marijuana bill passed that was named after her mother. And she had the thirst and desire of a pit bull locked on to their prey's neck, shaking and knawing at it until it's final breath.

"I'm looking to win won of three of the seats currently up for grabs in the 45th district, to be about the work of the people, putting them ahead of my own personal self-interests!" ~ Andy Pierre

This legislation was her baby! The one piece of legislation that she took great interest in over all others, based on the medical need for its passage, but also because of the level of financial impact it could have on black-owned companies who could possibly get in on it as a licensed grower and/or distributor. The bill was passed, without the minority-inclusion that Delegate Glenn had anticipated, since nobody could have predicted the commission that was selected or the almost solely white-owned companies they'd selected to award the licenses.

So Glenn then successfully sought out the Chairmanship of the most powerful arm of minority legislators in Annapolis, the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, and made it her mission to include blacks in the licensing of this lucrative industry. However, it seemed as if the white dominated democratic leadership in Annapolis had other plans, so they waited until the final hour of the 2017 legislative session and dropped the hammer on Glenn's bill, which would have included more African American owned licensed growers and distributors.

Along for the ride was her trusted right-hand man, the caucus' executive director, Mr. Pierre. After meeting him while taping our ValueMyVote, DMVDaily Dose video segments, Glenn was impressed with his many talents and growing knowledge and thirst of the political process. Here was a young man, recently married, who was looking to put his stamp on the local political scene, so Glenn offered him the opportunity to work side-by-side with her, as they sought to make the Black Caucus the most fierce and dynamic group of legislators since the old Goon Squad of years past.

Problem was, they didn't always see eye-to-eye, as some staffers in Annapolis put it. In fact, some folks close to Glenn described it more as a mentee trying to outshine the mentor kind of situation, though Mr. Pierre sees it much different. He sought the knowledge and advise of someone "he thought was for the people", when all he got was someone who would sell the people down the river for a "chicken box and half & half" if it served her own personal agenda and interests.

So needless to say, the city's dynamic duo split up like Ike and Tina, both going their seperate ways. Glenn, seeking a fourth term in the upcoming democratic primaries later this year, chose to focus on improving the legislation near and dear to her heart; while Mr. Pierre decided to give up the staffer life and seek one of the three House seats in the very district that his one-time boss currently serves.

"I'm not running to get elected to the open seat left vacant by Cory McCray's run for state senate, nor am I seeking to unseat Mrs. Glenn, but rather I'm looking to win won of three of the seats currently up for grabs in the 45th district, to be about the work of the people, putting them ahead of my own personal self-interests," says a glowing young candidate.

And while his comment didn't appear to be directed at his former boss, though the last part could be taken as a slight to Glenn; his latest op-ed in the Afro cannot be interpreted any other way. It was definitely a shot aimed squarely at the heart of Glenn, and here's what Mr. Pierre had to say:

Another Miss with Cannabis

By: Andy Pierre (Op-Ed in the Afro)

In 2015, Delegate Cheryl D. Glenn (D-45) introduced legislation to legalize marijuana for medicinal use in Maryland and established the Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) to regulate the new market. The flawed legislation allowed for the MMCC to award all of the initial fifteen grower licenses to White firms. Taking advantage of racial disparity for political expediency, Delegate Glenn jumped in front of the cameras as a vocal proponent in the fight for minority inclusion in the medical cannabis industry.

Fast forward to 2018 when Delegate Glenn introduced emergency legislation alleging to solve the racial disparity caused by her previous legislation. The remedial legislation passed, adding an additional five grower licenses and ten processor licenses. But whether by design or oversight, when you read the legislation, it’s clear that there is treachery afoot.

Andy Pierre (LinkedIn Photo)

The legislation does very little to address the racial disparity in the prescription medication industry. Instead, the legislation makes it worse for minority businesses. As Maryland’s premier legal journal, The Daily Record, wrote, “HB2 is anti-competitive and protects current licensees. HB2 creates barriers to entry by limiting opportunity, and not only to minority and female entrepreneurs.” By restricting the additional growers’ licenses to companies who already had a processing license, Glenn’s legislation reduced the number of eligible Black-owned companies to one. The legislation also locks down the application process until 2024, creating yet another barrier for qualified minority-owned businesses looking to enter the industry. While there are some possible grants for training minorities in the industry, what’s the use if no new licenses are available, except for entry-level menial jobs?

Maryland’s Medical Cannabis industry is structured to be an out-of-pocket expense for patients since insurance companies do not cover cannabis prescriptions. By limiting the application process until 2024, the legislation creates an oligopoly that allows for price-fixing in an industry not regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. The Daily Record noted, “Government should promote an environment for innovation, not handcuff it. Yet that is just what HB2 accomplishes.” Needy patients without funds will be unable to get legal medical marijuana, and the so-called Compassionate Care Fund applies only to those on Medicaid and veterans. What about everybody else?

After interviewing the delegate, Erin Cox of the Baltimore Sun, wrote in her article “Plan to Diversify Maryland Medical Marijuana Market Might Boost White Firms Instead” that “Delegate Cheryl D. Glenn… said it’s possible under the current proposal that no African-Americans would win the new licenses…” Yet Delegate Glenn goes around the community touting her medical cannabis legislation as victory for Black Maryland, but she is well aware that her legislation is a farce.

So when the smoke cleared, one African-American company was granted a growers’ license, and two of the licenses went to White men (one of whom is a major donor to Governor Hogan).

We need to see what Del. Glenn’s HB2 really does: it supports the status quo and does nothing to help patients or the minority community. A better fix would be to remove the caps on grower and processor licenses and allow any and all qualified companies, big or small, to compete in the marketplace. By doing so, we can ensure that all patients have access to quality medication at an affordable price.