Maryland: Montgomery County Lawmakers recommended at a press conference June 17th, 2014, that marijuana related offenses should be the lowest priority for police and state attorneys.
“I think we have to change the way that we do police work, and marijuana should not be something we should be pulling people into the criminal justice system for,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer. (via WJLA)
In April, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed a law that decriminalizes marijuana by reducing the first offense penalty for possession of marijuana by anyone over 20 to $100. The bill will take effect on October 1st, 2014.
The Montgomery County State Attorneys Office as well as 7 of the 9 Montgopmery County Council members have signed on to support the resolution.
“It’s a big part in acknowledging that it’s time to stop making people criminals, and it’s time to start helping people,” said Councilwoman Cherri Branson.
