MARYLAND

MARYLAND'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW IS BROKEN!

It's True. Medical marijuana patients are treated like criminals in Maryland. They can still be arrested, prosecuted, and convicted - even if they possess a doctor's recommendation. Marylanders who suffer from serious or chronic disease deserve a law that works. Support access to an effective medicine and real protections for patients. We are not criminals. We ­are mothers, fathers, sisters, employees, and business owners. We take care of our families, we pay taxes, and we vote.

Help us fix Maryland's medical marijuana law.

ASA MoCo Chapter History
Since 2007, ASA chapters in MD have hosted numerous meetings, provided trainings and teach-ins across the state, organized art parties, and created a public presence by attending street festivals in Bethesda, Wheaton, Fell’s Point, and outside the M&T Bank Stadium during the Baltimore Ravens’ home games – all to spread awareness about medical cannabis and to recruit new members.

The chapters worked with the Drug Policy Alliance to promote the Maryland Patients for Access campaign, designed to build grassroots support and identify potential leadership for upcoming reform efforts.  In addition to public awareness sessions, the ASA chapters have hosted spokesperson and media trainings, making Marylanders better informed about of the vulnerabilities that patient’s face and how to navigate law enforcement encounters.

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ASA MARYLAND EVENTS

HB 1339 Introduced - Call your State Delegates!

Delegate Henry Heller (D-Montgomery County) introduced legislation, HB 1339, that creates a task force to study the issues related to medical marijuana throughout the state of Maryland. If the bill passes, the State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene would be required to staff a Governor-appointed task force to evaluate whether the current state law is effective, fair, and equally enforced across all state jurisdictions in addition to other issues concerning the limited, therapeutic use of cannabis.

 Now, we need your help! Please take just a few minutes to call your State Delegates and ask them to support HB 1339.

 HB1339 is a major step in the path to improving our state’s medical marijuana law. Currently, individuals in Maryland who possess a physician’s recommendation to use marijuana for therapeutic purposes are vulnerable to arrest and prosecution. (To watch video of Delegate Heller talking about HB 1339, see approximately halfway through, Link here)

To locate your three State Delegates, see Link here to locate State Delegate

Once you have located your Delegates and their contact information; call them and use this script below to communicate effectively.

"Hello! My name is ______ and I live in District___. I’m calling to raise awareness about the need to improve Maryland’s medical marijuana law. State Delegate Henry Heller (D-Montgomery County) introduced legislation, HB 1339, last week that creates a task force to study the issues related to medical marijuana. In Maryland individuals who have a physician recommend marijuana for therapeutic use are still arrested and prosecuted like criminals. Medical cannabis patients and their loved ones deserve real protections. I hope that we can count on the delegates support for our efforts to make improvements to Maryland’s medical marijuana law. Thank you very much for your time."

Let Us Know: Send an email to md4safeaccess@gmail.com to let us know how the call went.

For more info contact:

Tony Bowles (415) 283-7404 or md4safeaccess@gmail.com
Outreach Coordinator
Americans for Safe Access, Maryland

ASA Chapter Meetings

Montgomery County ASA Meeting
Please join MOCO-ASA at our next meeting to enjoy fair and sustainable coffee or other specialty drink and delicious snacks, while we discuss the work needed to improve legislation, plan for upcoming events, and actions to raise awareness and build grassroots support for change.

WHO: You, your friends and supporters
WHAT: Cannabis Coffee House/MOCO-ASA Chapter Meeting
WHEN: Tuesday, February, 24th. 7pm
WHERE: Dejabel Café, 2519 University Blvd @ Georgia Ave

 Wheaton, MD 20902 (Only 1 block from Wheaton Metro)

For more information, please email or call Tony Bowles at MD4SafeAccess@gmail.com or 415-283-7404 or find us on MySpace.com at www.myspace.com/mocoasa and check out photos at www.flickr.com/photos/md4safeaccess

Prince Georges County ASA Meeting TBA
For more information, please email Jay Hartman safeaccesspg@gmail.com

Eastern Shore Meeting TBA
Contact Tom Adkins for information on getting involved in Eastern Shore! 

Tom Adkins - (410) 713-5374 email: EasternShoreASA@yahoo.com or find us on MySpace.com at www.myspace.com/easternshoreasa

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 Get the Facts

•  Current State laws
• In 2003, the Maryland State Legislature passed a medical cannabis law, the Darrel Putnam Compassionate Use Act, to limit sentencing to a $100 fine when a medical necessity is substantiated in court (though the Act is unclear on how to argue such a defense).  However, patients who possess a physician’s recommendation to use cannabis therapeutically are still being arrested, jailed, prosecuted, fined and registered as criminals. Many of these patients have been denied access to state assistance because they test positive for cannabis.
  

• Proposed Legislative Action
• In mid-February, Delegate Heller (Montgomery County) introduced HB1339 to create a government appointed task force to study the issue of medical cannabis across the state.  Read the full text of HB 1339 here: http://www.mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb1339f.pdf
  

• How MD Legislative process works
• Between sessions, legislators meet in committees and other groups to study and work out details of proposed laws.
• High volume of introduced bills makes it preferable to file a proposed law as soon as possible; bills prefiled (submitted before the first day of the session) get first priority.
• After reading in the general assembly, a bill is assigned to one of 4 Senate or 6 House committees.  The committee holds public hearings related to each proposed bill (including cost analysis provided by Legislative Services) with testimony from the sponsor, other supporting parties and the opposition.  If passed in committee, the bill is sent back to the general assembly, where it is open to amendments.  The third reading of the finalized bill culminates with a vote on the floor.
•  After passage by either the House or Senate, the bill is sent to the other legislative chamber where it follows a similar process.  If the second chamber makes amendments, it is sent back to the first chamber for review.  Finally, the bill is voted on by the second chamber and, if passed, sent to the Governor for signature.  Acts become effective in Maryland state law on June 1st, following the end of the session, unless otherwise noted in the legislation.

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If you want to receive updates specifically about ASA-MD directly to your email box, visit http://lists.safeaccessnow.org/lists/subscribe/maryland.

Discuss the latest medical marijuana issues, actions, updates, and events happening in Maryland. Access Maryland

And help MD ASA on your own by printing and distributing the brochure and petition below.  

Maryland Patients for Access is a project of the Drug Policy Alliance in partnership with  Americans for Safe Access

Other Resources

ASA's Guide to Becoming a Patient in Maryland