Pubdate: Sat, 08 Mar 2014
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2014 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Michael Dresser

SENATE COMMITTEE CLEARS DECRIMINALIZATION OF POT

A Senate committee voted 8-3 Friday to approve a measure 
decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, sending it 
to the full chamber next week.

The bill would replace criminal penalties for possession of up to 10 
grams of the drug with a $100 civil fine that would be handled much 
like a parking ticket. Maryland law now makes possession a 
misdemeanor with penalties of up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

The legislation, which has bipartisan sponsorship, is expected to 
pass the Senate but faces an uncertain future in the House, which 
killed it last year after the upper chamber approved it. The House 
has a work group studying the broader question of how to treat 
marijuana in state law, including proposals to allow expanded medical 
use of the drug.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom