Maryland Senate Votes to "Decriminalize" Small Amounts of Pot

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Public Domain

The Maryland Senate voted today to "decriminalize" possession of up to ten grams of marijuana. Even a few Republicans supported the measure, which passed on a 30 to 16 vote.

GOP Sen. Nancy Jacobs, for example, said that her husband has cancer and that "if she needed or wanted to buy a small amount of marijuana for her husband, she would want to be able to do that."

Just because the law decriminalizes small amounts of pot does not mean there won't be any penalties at all for someone found with the drug. Those caught with less than ten grams of pot will still be cited and fined $100. 

Still, tickets and citations pale in comparison to the tragic consequences that thousands face each and every year as we continue to wage the longest war in American history.

Comments

[DEATFBIRSECIA]

Hey it's a step.

[Cytotoxic]

Brick by brick.

[Apatheist ?_??]

Yep. That said I'm glad that Washington and Colorado have taken the next step so that decriminalization isn't the norm. Slow states like here in Texas will probably be able to skip straight to legalization when the time comes.

[Oso Politico]

'Those caught with less than ten grams of pot will still be cited and fined $100.'

So 10 or 20 kilos would be just fine?

[Leigh]

I know that it is good and all, but I can't help but feeling pissed that the only time you hear a politician change their mind on anything from gay equality, drugs, ObamaCare, minimum wages, and other regulations is when it has affected them personally. Fuck them.

[thom]

At least she seems to believe that the law actually applies to her.

[Fist of Etiquette]

GOP Sen. Nancy Jacobs, for example, said that her husband has cancer and that "if she needed or wanted to buy a small amount of marijuana for her husband, she would want to be able to do that."

The GOP: Sometimes the laws we pass negatively affect people we know!

[Irish]

On the bright side, the GOP at least notices when laws affect people they know. Democrats can see their own health insurance premiums go up after the passage of Obama care and can't seem to figure out why.

[A Mathematician]

A film by Reason?

[SumpTump]

Now why didnt I ever think of that? Wow.

http://www.PC-Privacy.tk

[Old Man With Candy]

So the Ravens can sign Ricky Williams?