Marijuana

I greatly appreciate that Larry Carson mentioned two of my most important campaign issues in his Sept. 30 article ("Candidates face off for general election at forum"). However, the drug "spice" is not "likened to marijuana. " It is in fact synthetic marijuana equal to the real thing in terms of the effect on the mind — yet legal and readily available to children. Cases of respiratory problems have also been reported by users of this product. And it is believed that exposure to high dosages can cause unconsciousness, short-term memory loss, damage to the heart, liver, kidney, lungs and brain.

Police in Howard County say they busted a marijuana growing operation at a house in Laurel, seizing 341 plants that authorities estimate could yield 170 pounds of pot worth more than a half million dollars. Police charged Manoj Unni, 30, of the 9300 block of Cross Timbers Court, with several drug counts. Police said they searched the house on Wednesday and found the alleged growing operation in the basement, with "sophisticated growing equipment. " Police said they found "high-intensity lights, a dehumidifier, air filters, water pumping systems, lighting timers, a CO2 system and a ventilation system.

Should juries vote "not guilty" on low-level marijuana charges to send a message about our country's insane marijuana arrest policy? Jury nullification is a constitutional doctrine that allows juries to acquit defendants who are technically guilty but who don't deserve punishment. As Paul Butler wrote recently in The New York Times, juries have the right and power to use jury nullification to protest unjust laws. Mr. Butler points out that nullification was credited with ending our country's disastrous alcohol Prohibition as more and more jurors refused to send their neighbors to jail for a law they didn't believe in. He says we need to do the same with today's marijuana arrests.

I just read about the 23 bodies found in Mexico due to drug wars. It makes me sick that people are dying for marijuana. I don't smoke marijuana, but I did when I was younger and almost everyone I know did. How do we justify our drug policy that kills people in our neighboring country? Legalizing marijuana would end this travesty. Didn't we learn anything from prohibition? Or are we so callous because it only kills people in another country and the poor of our country? The only moral issue here is ignoring the suffering of others - not the use of this relatively harmless drug!

Your recent editorial on medical marijuana was yet another attempt to frame the legalization debate in terms of public safety, which is nothing more than a convenient smoke screen ("Go slow on marijuana," Jan. 3). If our leaders cared one wit about public safety as it concerns drugs, most of the prescription medicines advertised directly to consumers would be taken off the shelves. Marijuana has been studied to death already, not for its medical benefits but for its potential harm.

I do not understand why The Sun is not featuring any of the experts (many available right here in Baltimore) who have worked in the field of addictions and have valuable experience and information about the negative consequences of legalizing marijuana, which is a well-known "gateway" drug and ripe for black market enterprise despite suggested constraints ("Md. fights through haze over medical marijuana," Jan. 31). There are many serious drawbacks to legalization. I feel the following questions are valid and need to be explored before the legislature approves such a bill.

The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would cut the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana in a way that curtails the right to an initial jury trial on the charges. By a 16-4 vote, members said, the panel gave its OK to Del. Luke Clippingers's bill setting the maximum penalty for possesssion of 7 grams or less of marijuana at 90 days and a $500 fine. Previously those convicted of the charge could have been given up to a year in jail. With a potential penalty of more than 90 days, defendants were entitled to a jury trial in Circuit Court  -- an option may have taken.  Under the legislation, defendants would initially be  tried before a District Court judge but would retain the right to appeal to the Circuit Court.

Baltimore City State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein was among the prosecutors urging lawmakers to allow prosecutors to seek shorter sentences in some marijuana possession cases , WBAL Radio reported this week. Bernstein was in Annapolis Tuesday to testify before the House Judiciary Committee which was considering a bill to allow prosecutors to pursue a maximum 90-day jail term for those convicted of possessing less than 14-grams of marijuana.  Current law calls for a maximum one-year jail term.

Penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana in Maryland — less than 10 grams — will drop in October, when a new law goes into effect reducing the maximum prison term to 90 days from one year and cutting the potential fine in half, to $500 from $1000. Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein backed the bill, which was signed into law Wednesday, as a way to reduce the number of cases clogging the city's circuit courts. "To continue making Baltimore safer, we must focus our limited resources on the strategic investigation and aggressive prosecution of violent offenders," Bernstein said in a statement.

Two Harford County residents were charged with marijuana possession in Cecil County earlier this week. The charges occurred as the result of a traffic stop near Elkton, according to a report in the Cecil Whig . Sarah Marie Keithley, 21, of the 800 block of Shawnee Brook Drive in Havre de Grace, was charged with possession of marijuana, according to Maryland online court records. Keithley also received a traffic citation for driving on the median strip. The violation occurred at 2:12 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, in the 3600 block of Pulaski Highway in Elkton, according to online court records.

Penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana in Maryland — less than 10 grams — will drop in October, when a new law goes into effect reducing the maximum prison term to 90 days from one year and cutting the potential fine in half, to $500 from $1000. Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein backed the bill, which was signed into law Wednesday, as a way to reduce the number of cases clogging the city's circuit courts. "To continue making Baltimore safer, we must focus our limited resources on the strategic investigation and aggressive prosecution of violent offenders," Bernstein said in a statement.

Harford County Sheriff's deputies and Maryland State Police report: Aberdeen Lance Scott Chronister, 36, of the 200 block of Poclain Road, was charged on an arrest warrant Thursday with marijuana possession. Marcus S. Valley, 33, of the 1900 block of Bennett Road, was arrested on a bench warrant Thursday in a case in which he was charged with theft less than $1,000. Edwin John Schwinn, 22, of the 100 block of Hawkins Drive, was arrested on a bench warrant Friday in a case in which he was charged with disorderly conduct.

Carl O. Snowden, civil rights chief for the Maryland attorney general's office, was charged in Baltimore District Court with marijuana possession Friday — the same day he announced a voluntary leave of absence from his job — according to online court records. He was under court supervision for a drunken-driving conviction at the time of the arrest, and could face 60 days in jail if Anne Arundel County prosecutors pursue a probation-violation charge against him. "We are confident that Mr. Snowden will not be found guilty," Snowden's lawyer, Carey J. Hansel III, said in an emailed statement.

Baltimore County police are searching for a man who they say punched a police officer, wriggled out from the officer's grasp and escaped in Milford Mill Sunday evening. Around 6 p.m., an officer spotted a man in an wooded area near the 2400 block of Golders Green Court who appeared to have a marijuana cigarette, police said. The officer got out of his car and approached the man who "swung his fist at the officer," police said. The officer drew his weapon and attempted to restrain the man on the ground while asking witnesses to call 911, police said.

Gov. Martin O'Malleyneeds to do the right thing and sign medical marijuana legislation if it makes it to his desk ("Patients urge OK of medical marijuana," March 10). While there have been studies showing that marijuana can shrink cancerous tumors, medical marijuana is essentially a palliative drug. If a doctor recommends marijuana to a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy and it helps the patient feel better, then it's working. In the end, medical marijuana is a quality of life decision best left to patients and their doctors.

The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would cut the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana in a way that curtails the right to an initial jury trial on the charges. By a 16-4 vote, members said, the panel gave its OK to Del. Luke Clippingers's bill setting the maximum penalty for possesssion of 7 grams or less of marijuana at 90 days and a $500 fine. Previously those convicted of the charge could have been given up to a year in jail. With a potential penalty of more than 90 days, defendants were entitled to a jury trial in Circuit Court  -- an option may have taken.  Under the legislation, defendants would initially be  tried before a District Court judge but would retain the right to appeal to the Circuit Court.

Legislation that would allow those caught with small amounts of marijuana to avoid punishment altogether if they can convince a judge that they used the drug out of medical necessity would still leave state law on the matter an inconsistent jumble. But given the reasonable concerns state Health Secretary Joshua Sharfstein raised about Maryland's ability to enact a more comprehensive bill sponsored this year by Del. Dan Morhaim and others, the legislation, which passed the state Senate, represents a reasonable middle step and deserves to be enacted by the House of Delegates.

Maryland senators have advanced a bill that would legalize medical marijuana. Senators backed a procedural move on Friday that will allow a final vote on the measure. The proposal would allow pharmacies to distribute marijuana to patients who receive authorization from a physician with whom they have had ongoing medical relationships. It would also re-categorize marijuana as a highly regulated pain medication like morphine instead of keeping it in the same category of drugs like heroin.

On March 9, Gov. Martin O'Malleysaid he is likely to veto a medical marijuana law if the Maryland General Assembly passes one. His spokeswoman said he is concerned about a Feb. 9, 2012 letter from Charles Oberly, Delaware's U.S. attorney, to Gov. Jack Markell, threatening to prosecute Delaware officials as common drug traffickers if they carry out their state's medical marijuana law. Governor O'Malley should look carefully at this letter....