Maryland Senate votes to ease marijuana penalties

[riky]

Maryland Senate votes to ease marijuana penalties

<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/maryland-senate-votes-ease-marijuana-penalties-193049992--finance.html"><img src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ewPyblnyNdaQws9q06qqcw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-03-14T193049Z_1_CBREA2D1I7F00_RTROPTP_2_USA.JPG" width="130" height="86" alt="An attendee holds marijuana buds at the International Cannabis &amp; Hemp Expo in Oakland" align="left" title="An attendee holds marijuana buds at the International Cannabis &amp; Hemp Expo in Oakland" border="0" /></a>By Alice Popovici ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (Reuters) - The Maryland state Senate voted overwhelmingly on Friday to decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana, part of a trend across the United States to ease penalties for pot. The Democrat-controlled Senate voted 36-8 to make possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana a civil and not criminal offense. The legislation is among bills that lawmakers in Maryland, among the most liberal U.S. states, are considering to ease restrictions on possession of marijuana, including a measure to legalize it. The bill's sponsor, Baltimore County Democrat Robert Zirkin, during debate cited research showing that reducing the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana elsewhere had not resulted in more people using the drug.</p><br clear="all"/>

Source: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login