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Marijuana will one day be legally available in Maryland. That's our prediction. But it won't be this year, despite a push from supporters and a bill pending in the Maryland General Assembly. Lawmakers become exceedingly cautious in an election year. Even in last year's session, members of the House and Senate demurred over legislation that would have effectively decriminalized pot by reducing its fine down to $100 and making it a civil rather than a criminal penalty to possess an ounce or less. About 15 states have eased off prosecution. Only two have legalized the drug: Colorado and Washington. And that's where Maryland lawmakers have turned their gaze, waiting to see what, if anything, happens in those states.
One cautious lawmaker is Delegate Luis Simmons, a Montgomery Democrat who's in a challenging field of contenders hoping to move up to the Senate. He said he'll vote for a decriminalization bill filed by Baltimore County Democrat, Sen. Bobby Zirkin, similar to the one filed last year, which was also sponsored by Zirkin. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to look at what are huge pilot programs in significant states and to learn before we leap," Simmons told the Capital News Service.
Sen. Jaime Raskin, from Montgomery County, and Delegate Curt Anderson, of Baltimore want the Legislature to go all the way. The Democrats have filed the Maryland Marijuana Control Act of 2014. Legalizing and regulating the pot trade would be a blow to drug dealers and organized crime, they said. Raskin and Anderson's bill would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by Marylanders 21 and older.
"The problem with decriminalization is that it leaves in place the basic dynamics of criminal control over the supply of marijuana," Raskin told CNS. "Our goal is to kick the drug dealers out of the state, and there is one way to do it, which is to regulate and tax marijuana – let the government take over the whole process." More importantly, and more compellingly in a tax-happy state like Maryland, revenue from legalizing marijuana could be significant. According to a CNN report, Colorado could rake in $208 million on top of $250 million from its medical marijuana this year. With no regulations on the price, dispensaries were charging up to $400 an ounce before taxes.
So much money was raised, legalization advocates are planning a blitz of voter initiatives in the next couple of years. "This is unquestionably a tremendous growth industry," Betty Aldworth, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, told CNN. "There hasn't been an opportunity like this in American history in quite some time. The tech boom had an impact on the American economy, but I think this could rival it." Another argument in favor is that legalization will free up law enforcement to pursue more serious crimes. Maryland ranked among the top five state for pot possession arrests, according to the FBI's 2011 uniform crime report. Libertarian Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron estimated that Maryland spends $236.7 million a year on enforcement.
But support statewide for legalization isn't overwhelming: 51 percent are in support with 40 percent opposed, an October poll by Goucher found. In comparison, 58 percent of Americans are in favor. That local snapshot may change however, especially if Colorado and Washington's grand experiments succeed and other states move towards legal marijuana sales. But not this year, unless there's a sea change in attitude at the top – Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is maneuvering ahead of making an official run for president, opposes legalization. But the pressure is on. Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California and Alaska have legalization on the table this year. So does Washington, D.C. And you can bet a lot of Maryland's recreational users will hop into the District on the first day of sales, leading the Free State's lawmakers to wonder if they're missing out. It's not an "if," but a "when" for Maryland to find the lure of that much cash too inviting to resist.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Fredericknewspost.co
Author: Bobby Zirkin
Contact: Contact Us - The Frederick News-Post : Site
Website: Not this year, but soon, Maryland will legalize marijuana - The Frederick News-Post : Police
One cautious lawmaker is Delegate Luis Simmons, a Montgomery Democrat who's in a challenging field of contenders hoping to move up to the Senate. He said he'll vote for a decriminalization bill filed by Baltimore County Democrat, Sen. Bobby Zirkin, similar to the one filed last year, which was also sponsored by Zirkin. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to look at what are huge pilot programs in significant states and to learn before we leap," Simmons told the Capital News Service.
Sen. Jaime Raskin, from Montgomery County, and Delegate Curt Anderson, of Baltimore want the Legislature to go all the way. The Democrats have filed the Maryland Marijuana Control Act of 2014. Legalizing and regulating the pot trade would be a blow to drug dealers and organized crime, they said. Raskin and Anderson's bill would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by Marylanders 21 and older.
"The problem with decriminalization is that it leaves in place the basic dynamics of criminal control over the supply of marijuana," Raskin told CNS. "Our goal is to kick the drug dealers out of the state, and there is one way to do it, which is to regulate and tax marijuana – let the government take over the whole process." More importantly, and more compellingly in a tax-happy state like Maryland, revenue from legalizing marijuana could be significant. According to a CNN report, Colorado could rake in $208 million on top of $250 million from its medical marijuana this year. With no regulations on the price, dispensaries were charging up to $400 an ounce before taxes.
So much money was raised, legalization advocates are planning a blitz of voter initiatives in the next couple of years. "This is unquestionably a tremendous growth industry," Betty Aldworth, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, told CNN. "There hasn't been an opportunity like this in American history in quite some time. The tech boom had an impact on the American economy, but I think this could rival it." Another argument in favor is that legalization will free up law enforcement to pursue more serious crimes. Maryland ranked among the top five state for pot possession arrests, according to the FBI's 2011 uniform crime report. Libertarian Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron estimated that Maryland spends $236.7 million a year on enforcement.
But support statewide for legalization isn't overwhelming: 51 percent are in support with 40 percent opposed, an October poll by Goucher found. In comparison, 58 percent of Americans are in favor. That local snapshot may change however, especially if Colorado and Washington's grand experiments succeed and other states move towards legal marijuana sales. But not this year, unless there's a sea change in attitude at the top – Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is maneuvering ahead of making an official run for president, opposes legalization. But the pressure is on. Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California and Alaska have legalization on the table this year. So does Washington, D.C. And you can bet a lot of Maryland's recreational users will hop into the District on the first day of sales, leading the Free State's lawmakers to wonder if they're missing out. It's not an "if," but a "when" for Maryland to find the lure of that much cash too inviting to resist.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Fredericknewspost.co
Author: Bobby Zirkin
Contact: Contact Us - The Frederick News-Post : Site
Website: Not this year, but soon, Maryland will legalize marijuana - The Frederick News-Post : Police
