Most of the criminal justice bills that are either signed into law by the Governor or otherwise pass the General Assembly become law on October 1 each year. The exceptions are major policy changes such as the legalization of marijuana, which typically are planned farther in advance. Marijuana legalization stole…
The House and Senate approved Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 824, and both will almost certainly become law on October 1, 2023. House Bill 824 did not receive much fanfare, but will further tighten Maryland’s already strict gun laws. The Bill, which was introduced by a Delegate who also…
The legalization of marijuana in Maryland will have a much broader reach than simply eliminating the prosecution of marijuana possession cases. Perhaps the largest collateral consequence of legalization is the effect it will have on law enforcement’s ability to search a vehicle. Even after marijuana possession was decriminalized police officers…
Senate Bill 1 sparked heated debate when it was first introduced at the beginning of the 2023 Maryland Legislative Session. The debate was heated for good reason, as the bill originally proposed massive restrictions on where a licensed individual could possess a firearm. We were skeptical from the outset about…
Marijuana will be legalized for adult recreational use this summer, but until recently there was no indication when it would actually be available to purchase. Those following marijuana policy closely in Maryland are well aware that the first medical marijuana sales occurred almost five years after medical cannabis was signed…
Nearly eight months ago the Supreme Court ruled that the carrying a handgun in public is a constitutional right protected by the Second Amendment. In fashioning this ruling, the court declared that state and local governments shall issue concealed carry permits to qualified individuals who can satisfy objective requirements such…
The 2023 Maryland legislative session is underway, and there are currently dozens of criminal law bills that are being debated in Annapolis. Guns, marijuana and juvenile justice reform are three of the main issues this year, but there are numerous other proposals that could significantly alter the way crimes are…
As of midnight on January 1, possession of more than 10 grams of marijuana is no longer a crime in Maryland, and more changes to the state’s pot laws are in store for the rest of 2023. Back in 2014 when Marijuana possession was first decriminalized there was much debate…
Ten years ago marijuana first became legal in parts of the United States after voters in Washington and Colorado approved recreational cannabis. Over the last decade an additional 17 states and the District of Columbia all followed suit and voted to legalize marijuana use for adults. Maryland lawmakers have been…
On October 1 a host of new laws took effect in Maryland, though most of these laws do not modify existing criminal laws or procedure. There are however two laws that will impact on our state’s criminal justice system. The first new law prohibits a spouse from invoking the marital…