Maryland may be headed towards fully decriminalizing marijuana as the Senate's approval of non-criminal possession amounts increases, from 10 to 28 grams.
As the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries continue to pop up across the state and more dispensary and grower’s licenses are granted, many believe that cannabis decriminalization in Maryland will soon follow suit within the next few years. While medical marijuana has been the main focus of the pro-pot side, and a subject of debate among those who oppose the reform of marijuana laws, many of the state’s residents have either forgotten or don’t even realize that Marijuana possession of up to 10 grams has already been made a non-criminal offense and became law in 2014 -- four years before the first medical dispensaries opened up shop in the state.
Efforts to fully decriminalize marijuana in the state now have moved another step forward. On Monday, March 19, the State Senate passed a bill that would make carrying up to 28 grams of Marijuana a non-criminal, civil offense only punishable by fines, much like a common traffic citation.
The bill passed in the State Senate by a 36-11 vote.
While the bill’s passage is a small but significant step towards the goal of full legalization, there are other pending bills in the General Assembly that, if passed, would make decriminalization a ballot question for voters. Voting on full legalization for the time being, however, is simply just a possibility.
Bills pending have not gained enough momentum or garnered enough support from lawmakers to be on the ballot of this year’s state elections, but their presence in Maryland General Assembly hearings certainly indicates that the issue remains a subject of debate among politicians and is not unlikely to make it to the ballots in statewide elections later on down the road.
Senate bill 127 now will be voted on in the Maryland House of Delegates.
What do you think? Are you for or against this change? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and let's get the conversation started.
