Lawmakers Introduce Measure to Legalize, Tax Marijuana in Md

M

matt2012

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
2,257
Location
Canton, OH
http://somd.com/news/headlines/2014/17671.shtml


ANNAPOLIS (Jan. 19, 2014) -- Some Democratic lawmakers want to make it legal for Maryland residents to possess, use and grow marijuana, which would be regulated and taxed like alcohol, they announced Thursday.

Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Montgomery, and Del. Curt Anderson, D-Baltimore, said their proposed Marijuana Control Act of 2014 would take power out of the hands of drug dealers and channel revenue into public causes like school construction projects and drug and alcohol treatment programs.

“The vast majority of Marylanders have come to the realization that the current war on drugs is failing with respect to marijuana,” Raskin said.

The senator criticized the current laws banning the drug, saying that it drives up the cost of marijuana and enriches drug dealers and international organized crime in a way that could be avoided through government regulation.

Their proposal would make it legal for Marylanders 21 years of age and older to possess as much as an ounce of marijuana, and would permit home-growing of up to six marijuana plants. Smoking the drug in public would remain illegal.
Click to expand...
 
It would be really nice as an ex-marylander to see that pass, but there's one local representative who has tabled every piece of cannabis-related legislation in maryland for the last 15-20 years. Maybe he'll change his mind now but I'm pretty sure he's safely gerrymandered as one of the token republicans.
 
Democrats, the party of big government, are the ones I see pushing for legalization. Republicans, the party of small government, are the ones I see pushing for continued prohibition. Paradox!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top