Maryland Senate Votes to Decriminalize Possession of Small Amounts of Marijuana

Bill is now headed to the House of Delegates

The Maryland State Senate yesterday voted todecriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, writes the Examiner.

With a 30-16 vote, a bill that would drop the fine for possession of up to 10 grams of marijuana down to a $100 fine moves to the House of Delegates, where it faces an uncertain future. Existing law puts the penalty at a $500 fine and a possible jail term of 90 days. Maryland legislators are also debating a bill that would allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes; in 2011 they passed a bill allowing for an affirmative defense based on medical need.