Shouldn't we be talking about Maryland?

[LayedBack]

Considering it seems to be very close to passing decriminalization of small amounts as well as an efficient medicinal marijuana legislation. All it needs is the governor's signature and he's publicly announced that he's for it.

So um, considering this is the East Coast, and 1 state away from the South East at that, I'd figure you damn pothead would have a thread up about it by now!

If it passes, then personally this will be the best marijuana legislation news I've ever gotten, because I live close to Maryland.

I need medical marijuana and I need it to be approved nationwide so that I can finally go to a damn pain management and get my pain medicine whilst having THC in my system. It's outrageous that my quality of life is effected by that sort of crap.

 

[RB56]

It's good for people with less than 10 grams. No help beyond that. Pretty sure the medical side is targeting research. All of it is better than nothing and a step in the right direction (even if it's a pussy footing kind of step).

 

[RoadRash]

We should be talking about every state where people are persecuted for using or growing cannabis.

Even in some of the med states, the anti-Cannabis police actions are wide-spread and destroying a lot of lives.

 

[Plush1]

Still illegal to grow weed in MD.

The law is a tippy-toe step but with each new state even just starting the process the snowball gains momentum. It feels like states are just clamoring to get it while the gettin's hot. With 21 states already, we're coming up on 50% of the country with some sort of MM legislation on the books. This of course puts mounting pressure on the feds. Train keeps a rollin

At some point a legislator will submit a bill to Congress to remove marijuana from the list of schedule 1 narcotics. I think that's when we will really start feeling the wind at our backs.

 

[bootea]

The 90 Day Report – A Review of the 2014 Legislative Session

The 90 Day Report – A Review of the 2014 Legislative Session

Here is a summary of the legislation regarding marijuana that passed in this year's session of the Maryland legislature.



Part E Criminal Law

Marijuana

Possession of Marijuana as a Civil Offense

Except in cases of medical necessity, possession of marijuana is generally a
misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
However, Chapters 193 and 194 of 2012 established a reduced penalty of imprisonment for up to
90 days and/or a maximum fine of $500 for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana.


Senate Bill 364 (passed) reclassifies the use or possession of less than 10 grams of
marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil offense, subject to a fine of up to $100 for a
first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for a third or subsequent offense. On a third or
subsequent offense a court must order the offender to attend a drug education program approved
by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), refer the person to an assessment for
substance abuse disorder, and refer the person to substance abuse treatment, if necessary. The
court must order an adult offender under the age of 21, even for a first offense, to attend a drug
education program approved by DHMH, refer the person to an assessment for substance abuse
disorder, and refer the person to substance abuse treatment, if necessary.
A police officer must issue a citation if the officer has probable cause to believe that the
offense has or is being committed. The bill contains requirements for the contents of the civil
citation that must be issued in these cases, as well as procedural requirements for the
adjudication of the offense in District Court. If a citation is issued for an adult under the age of
21, the court shall summon the person for trial. If the court finds that a person at least 21 years
old has committed a third or subsequent violation, the court shall summon the person for trial.
An individual younger than age 18 charged with this civil offense is subject to juvenile
court procedures and dispositions, including referral to an alcohol or a substance abuse education
or rehabilitation program. A citation for a violation for possession of less than 10 grams of
marijuana, and the related public court record are not subject to public inspection and may not be
included on the public website maintained by the Maryland Judiciary.
The provisions of the bill that make the possession of marijuana a civil offense may not
be construed to affect laws relating to operating a vehicle or vessel under the influence of or
while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance or seizure and forfeiture. The civil penalties
collected are to be remitted to DHMH, which must use the money only for funding drug
treatment and education programs.

Medical Marijuana

Senate Bill 923/House Bill 881 (both passed) expand the purpose and responsibilities of
the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission to include the registration of certifying
physicians as well as conducting research on issues and disseminating information related to the
medical use of marijuana, limit the number of licensed growers, and specify the process by
which a qualifying patient may obtain medical marijuana, including provisions related to issuing
identification cards for qualifying patients and their caregivers. The bills also authorize the
commission to set reasonable fees to cover its operating costs and distribute any fees collected by
the commission to the existing Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission Fund. For a
more detailed discussion of these bills, see “Public Health – Generally” within Part I of this

Medical Marijuana

Chapter 403 of 2013 established the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission
and Fund. Among other things, the commission is required to annually issue a request for
applications for academic medical centers to operate medical marijuana compassionate use
programs. The commission is developing policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to
implement programs for the medical use of marijuana beginning in July 2014.
Senate Bill 923/House Bill 881 (both passed) expand the State’s medical marijuana program to
allow qualifying patients to obtain medical marijuana through persons other than academic
medical centers. A qualifying patient is a resident of the State who has been provided with a
written certification by a certifying physician in accordance with a bona fide physician-patient
relationship or is enrolled in a research program with a registered academic medical center. If
the patient is under the age of 18 years, the patient must also have a caregiver. In order to be
approved by the commission as a certifying physician, a physician must submit a proposal to the
commission that includes, among other items, the reasons for including a patient under the care
of the physician for the purposes of the medical marijuana law and the physician’s plan for
screening a patient for dependence. A qualifying patient who is 18 years of age or older may
obtain medical marijuana only from a medical marijuana grower licensed by the commission or a
dispensary licensed by the commission. If a qualifying patient is under the age of 18 years, the
patient may obtain medical marijuana only from the patient’s caregiver.
The commission is prohibited from licensing more than 15 growers until June 1, 2016, at
which time the commission may issue the number of licenses necessary to meet the demand for
medical marijuana. Additionally, the commission must set the standards for the licensure of
growers and dispensaries. Licensed growers may only provide medical marijuana to programs at
an academic medical center, dispensaries, qualified patients, and caregivers. Grower agents and
dispensary agents must be registered by the commission and must obtain a State and national
criminal history records check. Finally, Senate Bill 923/House Bill 881, in addition to making
other changes related to the commission, require the commission to issue reports on (1) any
changes in marijuana use by minors; (2) how to provide medical marijuana to veterans receiving
treatment at Veterans Affairs facilities; (3) the level of competition in the market for medical
marijuana; and (4) the taxation of medical marijuana and the impact that medical marijuana laws
have had on banking and financial transactions in other states that have implemented medical
marijuana laws.

from Part E-2 ofThe 90 Day Report on the 2014 Maryland legislative session.

 

[catbuds]

We already had a mmj law that passed in 2012, that one was for research & it flopped. This new one is ok, but needs an amendment to allow mmj patients to grow their own. Especially for shut ins. Many feel we'll get legalization in 2016. I'd like to see that happen before I die. Decriminalization was approved & will go into effect in Oct ot Nov (pretty sure its Oct).

 

[Dr.gopot]

any chance for legalizing went up in smoke with the defeat of Heather Mizeur on the democratic ticket. the medical side of it is pretty much non-existent because if it ever does happen it will cultivated by the state. nothing is ever going to happen in md

 

[Jhhnn]

Still illegal to grow weed in MD.

View Image

The law is a tippy-toe step but with each new state even just starting the process the snowball gains momentum. It feels like states are just clamoring to get it while the gettin's hot. With 21 states already, we're coming up on 50% of the country with some sort of MM legislation on the books. This of course puts mounting pressure on the feds. Train keeps a rollin

At some point a legislator will submit a bill to Congress to remove marijuana from the list of schedule 1 narcotics. I think that's when we will really start feeling the wind at our backs.

Polis & Blumenauer introduced one last year-

http://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=318723

It promptly went nowhere, given the "Conservatives" running the HOR.

 

[RB56]

Looks like under 10 grams is decriminalized as of today. I'm thinking that's as good as I can expect it to get. They've put absurdly high fees on the not yet functioning medical side. Big money's going to control production so my tiny 7 plant personal grow will probably never be legal.

OTOH, moving around with less than 10 grams is fine with me. Also means I can keep gifts under 10 ounces as a "favor" to the recipient

 

[stoned-trout]

last time I was there I got crabs. lol..... and I bailed a friend out of jail...

 

[catbuds]

Well Stoned Trout, Maryland is the state known for crabs from the Chesapeake bay! Oh wait.... did u mean the 'other' kind? LOL!
-- On a more serious note...... no plants for patients so I'm not even going to bother with a card until they fix this! Maryland sucks! They haven't really done anything for us, just a bunch of meaningless lip service! BUMMER!