One day after being sworn in as Maryland’s first Black governor, Wes Moore released nearly $70 million in funds approved by the previous General Assembly that had been withheld by former Republican governor Larry Hogan.

The previously unavailable funds will be put towards building out a recreational cannabis industry, funding training to expand the state’s network of abortion providers, and launching a paid family leave program. He also signed two executive orders; one that requires cabinet officials to adhere to ethics standards and another that creates a community service program for high school graduates.

“We view these investments that we’re releasing today critical to protecting the fundamental rights of all Marylanders,” Moore said in a Thursday press conference.

Moore’s first full day in office marked a shift for Democratic priorities in the state, previously stalled by Hogan’s budgetary discretions. Last year, the General Assembly passed a slew of changes to the state’s abortion laws, including a provision that would put $3.5 million to train abortion abortion providers. (The funding complemented another measure passed by lawmakers, which moved to allow nurse practioiners, midwives, and physicians assistants to perform abortions.) Due to a budgetary quirk, Hogan was not required to release the funding in 2022, and despite urging from Democratic lawmakers after the overturning of Roe. v. Wade, the former governor sat on the funds through the rest of his term. Moore freed up that $3.5 million on Thursday.

He also pledged $10 million for the Department of Labor to stand up a paid family and medical leave program in the state — another measure passed by the General Assembly last year — and $9 million toward the Climate Solutions Now Act, which aims to reduce emissions and support renewable energy resources.

The bulk of the $70 million will go towards the state’s budding cannabis industry, after voters approved legalizing possession of recreational marijuana in the last election. The ballot referendum set forth the legalization process (as of Jan. 1, possession of up to 1.5 ounces for adults 21 is decriminalized, and will be fully legalized on July 1), but the General Assembly’s legislation stopped short of setting up a framework for taxing, licensing, or regulating the sale of recreational cannabis. Ironing out how the industry will work is among the top legislative priorities this session, as legislators hope to avoid the equity failures that accompanied the rollout of Maryland’s medical marijuana industry.

Moore also met with new Attorney General Anthony Brown, telling reporters that public safety will be among his administration’s top priorities.

“All Marylanders have a right to be safe, in their homes, in their communities, and in their skin,” Moore said. “We wanted to spend time with the U.S. Attorney, to be able to say that we are going to move collaboratively…we are going to be honest and transparent.”

Moore has already filled out much of his cabinet, including some local faces. Susan Lee, a state senator representing Montgomery County, is now Maryland’s first Asian American to serve as a Secretary of State. He also tapped Prince George’s County state representative Paul Pinsky — a veteran leader on energy — to head the Maryland Energy Administration.