Improvements to Maryland's medical marijuana bill approved in committee

Published: March 18, 2011

A bill that would make needed improvements to the Darrell Putnam Compassionate Use Act was approved by the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee last night in a 10-1 vote. The bill, SB 308, now heads to the Senate floor. Please ask your legislators to support this compassionate bill.

Under current Maryland law, patients charged with use or possession of marijuana who demonstrate “medical necessity” are still given a criminal conviction, but are punishable by “only” a $100 fine. If passed, SB 308 would remove all criminal penalties for medical marijuana patients who demonstrate medical necessity in court.

SB 308 was originally drafted as a comprehensive bill that would have protected patients from arrest and established dispensaries where they could purchase marijuana. Unfortunately, some officials expressed reservations earlier this month, making it highly unlikely that the comprehensive bill would pass this year. Sen. Jamie Raskin championed amending the bill in committee to protect patients from criminal convictions and establish a work group comprised of doctors, patients, and policy experts to advise the legislature on just how to set up a more comprehensive law next session.

Please tell your legislators to vote 'yes,' and I’ll keep you posted on the progress of the bill. Thanks for all you do!