Pubdate: Tue, 19 Mar 2013
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2013 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Michael Dresser

SENATE BACKS DECRIMINALIZING SMALL AMOUNTS OF POT

A bill that would make possession of small amounts of marijuana a
civil offense passed the Maryland Senate Tuesday on a 30-16 vote.

The measure now goes to the House.

The legislation, crafted to avoid handing out jail terms for
possession of small amounts of marijuana, would remove any criminal
component to the prohibion of marijuana possession when a person is
caught with 10 grams or less -- about one-third of an ounce. The
maximum fine would be a $100 fine. The current maximum is a 90-day
jail term.

"It is a tremendous waste of resources," said Sen. Robert A. Zirkin,
the bill's sponsor. Zirkin, a Baltimore County Democrat, said Maryland
prosecutors don't want to put people arrested for small amounts of
marijuana through the criminal justice system.

Zirkin said the measure falls short of full legalization -- as
approved by Colorado and Washington voters last November. He said that
by moving to decriminalization, Maryland would join such states as
Mississippi and Nebraska in treating possession of small amounts of
marijuana as a civil infraction.
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MAP posted-by: Matt