News Editor
Possessing small amounts of marijuana will no longer be a crime in Maryland following a law passed April 7, which will be sent to the desk of Gov. Martin O’Malley who publicly announced that he intends on signing the bill.
The Maryland House of Delegates passed the proposal to lessen the penalty of marijuana possession on April 5, and two days later, the Senate voted 34-8 to accept the changes made by the house.
Adults ages 21 and over found with less than 10 grams of marijuana will be given a citation similar to a traffic ticket, with fines of $100 for the first offense and $250 the second time. After a third offense, they would face a fine of $500, a court date and a possible required drug treatment program.
Adults ages 18-20 would face a court date on their first violation and could be referred to a drug education course or a drug treatment program as well.
Before this new law, those charged with possession of marijuana could have faced jail time and been put on probation.
These citations will no longer show up on violator’s criminal records; however possession of more than 10 grams or drug paraphernalia such as bongs can still involve criminal penalties and jail time.
While Maryland has not completely decriminalized marijuana for recreational use, such as Colorado and Washington (which are taxing the drug like alcohol) have, Maryland is following the trend across the nation of becoming more lenient about the sale of the drug. Many states are pushing the sale of the drug for medical and recreational use as over a dozen states in the U.S. have decriminalized the possession of small amounts.
O’Malley, who has shown tough stances against crime in the past, and said in January that he strongly opposes legalizing marijuana for recreational use, has opened up to this more mild reform.
“As a young prosecutor, I once thought that decriminalizing the possession of marijuana might undermine the Public Will necessary to combat drug violence and improve public safety,” O’Malley said in a statement. “I now think that decriminalizing possession of marijuana is an acknowledgement of the low priority that our courts, our prosecutors, our police and the vast majority of citizens already attach to this transgression of public order and public health. Such an acknowledgment in law might even lead to a greater focus on far more serious threats to public safety and the lives of our citizens.”
This new law comes weeks after the state senate supported the ban on the sale of grain alcohol in Maryland, which is any alcohol above 190 proof, such as Everclear, in attempt to limit binge drinking in the U.S. Some members of the Maryland Senate believed that this product was specifically being abused by college students, who binge drink, and that it was causing many alcohol related deaths.
“I think these two new laws send the right message, as Everclear can be very dangerous when used by high-schoolers and younger college students who don’t yet understand how how to control their drinking,” said one SU student who wished to remain anonymous because of the negative connatations that come with marijuana use. “Although making it illegal I don’t agree with, as liquor in general is still dangerous to inexperienced drinkers. With marijuana being decriminalized, I hope that it can one day be legalized and taxed and put the money to better society, so I also think it’s a step in the right direction.”
The ban on the sale of grain alcohol would initially charge anyone who is selling it with a misdemeanor fine up to $1,000, and there would be no penalty for possession of the product.