EASTON - U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, Rmd.-1st, is part of a group of bipartisan congressmen who want to loosen the federal barriers to medical marijuana research. Harris, a physician who has also conducted National Institute of Health-sponsored research, and several other federal lawmakers plan to introduce bills in both houses of Congress. According to Harris' office, the House version of the bill would address two major barriers faced by those who want to conduct legitimate medical marijuana research. It allows for the private manufacturing and distribution of marijuana solely for research purposes, in order for the researchers to get the pot they need for their studies. It also aims to reduce approval wait times for studies. [continues 544 words]
EASTON - A November report by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland suggests the Mid-Shore has some of the highest racial disparities among marijuana arrests in the state. The ACLU of Maryland's report, "The Maryland War on Marijuana in Black and White," was developed using Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Census data between 2001 and 2010, and shows that during those years, the number of people arrested for marijuana possession in Maryland has increased by 34 percent, but suggests that blacks are disproportionately targeted for enforcement of the laws. [continues 1299 words]
