Maryland MMJ Judicial Commitee vote tomorrow.

As many might know Maryland is trying to pass a MMJ bill and the Senate Judicial Commitee vote is tomorrow. I received this from the ASA about the vote. Please contact your local senators about SB627. Here is the email I received.


Unfortunately, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee vote has been postponed another day. Before any debate or review on the amendments could happen, Sen. Alex Mooney raised questions about the fiscal note and wanted another day for review. Despite Sen. Rakin's best effort to fend off another delay, the Committee opted to hold the vote for one more day in order to satisfy Sen. Mooney's curiosity. Committee is scheduled to meet again tomorrow, April 2, at 1pm. We promise to keep you posted!

ATTENTION PG COUNTY RESIDENTS: Sen. Anthony Muse (Democrat, District 26, Prince George's County) confessed that he was on the fence about the legislation. Please encourage your friends in PG County, in particular District 26 call his office and indicate your support for SB627.

ACTION ALERT
SB627 has been provided an additional day before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee holds a vote.
Keep those calls going; If you've already called, make sure your friends, family and neighbors are too.

Sample Call-in Script:

Hello Senator ____________:

Maryland's medical marijuana law is broken; it leaves patients vulnerable to arrest and prosecution and without a safe and legal way to access the marijuana recommended by their physicians.
The time to fix Maryland's medical marijuana law is now! Medical marijuana patients and their families are counting on your leadership -- Please vote yes for SB627.

Thank you


Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee

Stone, Norman R., Jr. norman.stone@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3587

Jacobs, Nancy nancy.jacobs@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3158

Haines, Larry E. larry.haines@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3683

Brochin, James jim.brochin@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3648

Forehand, Jennie M. jennie.forehand@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3134

Raskin, Jamin B. (Jamie) jamie.raskin@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3634

Simonaire, Bryan W. bryan.simonaire@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3658

Muse, C. Anthony anthony.muse@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3092

Mooney, Alex X. alex.mooney@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3575

Frosh, Brian E. Brian.frosh@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3124

Gladden, Lisa A. lisa.gladden@senate.state.md.us (410) 841-3697

 

The vote has been postponed till Monday April 5th 2010 after 4pm. Anyone looking to support the cause can email the listed committee members to express your support.

 

I feel you on that hopefully it will happen soon, if not I might move to DC as they are close to a MMJ law also.

 

Vote has been postponed till Monday, April 5th no later than 4pm due to good friday.

 

see this is why things are so shitty on the forums sometimes, we are trying to get this passed and there has to be negativity. I posted this just to state what was going on in Maryland is relation to their MMJ law not for your amusement. Let's keep the it clean and not put down the fight we are putting up.

 

Here is an update from ASA about the senate judicial commitee vote:
I am pleased to inform you that SB627, Maryland's Medical Marijuana
legislation, was passed out of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
about an hour ago! After debate on more than a dozen amendments, the
committee finally voted the medical marijuana bill out of committee, the
vote was 7-4.
Some of the key amendments adopted include:

1) A provision to reschedule marijuana under the state law, from
Schedule I to Schedule II (adopted unanimously)

2) Strong language to protect patients from arrest and prosecution for
patients (adopted unanimously)

3) New language to authorize patients to possess no more than 6 ounces
every 30 days (adopted 7-4)



ASA is acquiring the amendments that were adopted and we will provide a
fuller analysis shortly. Next, SB627 will move to the full Senate where it
will be open to amendments and then voted on. If it passes the full senate,
then it proceeds to the House
<Maryland House Rules & Executive Nominations Committee - Members> Rules
Committee. If the Rules committee votes it out favorably, then it will
proceed to the House committees for consideration.

Many thanks to all of the patients and supporters who volunteered their time
to testify in support of the legislation, placed calls, sent emails,
participated in media interviews, and raised awareness. Your support and
continued dedication is still necessary to ensure adoption of the bill!



Stay tuned for more information --- including next steps HINT: It is time
to contact YOUR Maryland State Senator and urge their support for SB627!



This is a great first step but we still need all the support. I recommend anyone that is interested join the ASA mailing list and start voicing their opinion to their state senator on supporting SB627.

 

if passed one must have a actual patient doctor relationship with a doctor willing to certify that you have a medical need for medical marijuana. As of right now, each patient would only be allowed one dispensary/collective to handle their care and if they wanted to change providers they would have to pay a $15 change fee and you would be limited to one change a month. Kind of restrictive but at least its a start.

 

currently there is no true MMJ law in maryland. All we have now is the Darrell Putnam Compassionate Use Act of 2003. It allows affirmative defense in court based on marijuana use as a medicine. Maryland's current medical marijuana law reduces penalties for patients who present evidence of medical use in court to a $100 fine, but does not prevent them from being arrested, prosecuted or convicted.

The senate vote will be within the next week and if passed it will go to the House Rulings Committee. If Passed, from there it will go to a Full House Vote. This bill is a companion bill to House Bill 712.

If this is passed, Maryland would have a MMJ law in place. The new bill would make the state’s health department responsible for a medical marijuana program that would include licensing patients, caregivers, cultivators and distributors.

 

This is the ground work for maryland's new MMJ law.

 

the full senate vote is next week, you can urge your state senator to support SB627 by going to the state website, entering your address to find out your district senator and emailing your support of the bill and asking for their support.

 

no the vote won't come till after it passes the full senate vote and the house rulings committee vote.