Title:
Two marijuana policy reform bills pass in Maryland
Message:
The clock ran out on Maryland legislators last night. A bill to give medical marijuana caregivers an affirmative defense against charges of possession was collateral damage as legislators spent the evening trying and failing to reach a budget compromise. It wasn’t a total loss though — two good bills did pass. Here’s MPP’s summary of marijuana policy reform developments in the 2012 session of Maryland’s General Assembly.
The two bills that passed are SB 422 and SB 350. The former requires charging certain minor offenses, including marijuana possession, by citation, meaning marijuana users can be arrested (though it’s not required) but won’t be spending the night or the weekend in jail. The latter reduces the maximum penalty for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana from one year in jail to 90 days and the maximum fine from $1,000 to $500. Here again is the full summary.
You might also be interested to know that the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore is hosting conferences on Thursday and Friday to discuss PTSD, veterans, and medical marijuana and implementation of state medical marijuana laws. The events are open to the public, and MPP’s Karen O’Keefe will be speaking on Friday. Bill sponsor Del. Dan Morhaim, MD will be speaking both days. Here are the details on the PTSD and marijuana conference and the state law implementation conference.
Thanks for all your calls, emails, and support!
