Maryland legislators are at odds over a bill which would revise the state’s law which decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Under current law, anyone possessing less than ten grams of pot would not face criminal prosecution but would be issued a $100 civil citation.
A bill being debated by members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee would increase the legal threshold of possession from ten grams to one ounce, which is about three times more.
Delegate Jill Carter, an attorney who represents Baltimore City, says, “Officers on the street do not have any real ability to ascertain what is ten grams and what is not, so I think raising the amount helps us further achieve the goal of not arresting people for smaller amounts or for people who are using marijuana for personal use.”
The bill would also remove criminal penalties for possessing drug paraphernalia.
Delegate Carter says, “You don’t want people to be criminalized for paraphernalia if they can’t be criminalized for the actual marijuana.”
But critics of increasing the legal threshold for possessing marijuana without fear of arrest say that sends the wrong message to young people.
Delegate C.T. Wilson, a Democrat who represents Southern Maryland, says, “I have three daughters. It’s very hard to tell them that you know drinking is bad, smoking is bad, but smoking marijuana is okay. It’s a horrible message to young people.”
Delegate Wilson says the current law should be left as is.
“I didn’t vote for the bill, but I understand it, I’m fine with it. But I think tripling that, I don’t even believe there’s a call for that at this point,” said Wilson, who is a former prosecutor.
A committee vote on the revised marijuana possession bill is expected later this week.
