Maryland Marijuana Laws - Cannabis Legal Status in Maryland

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		Incarceration	Fine
Possession
Any amount	misdemeanor	1 year	$1,000
Sale or Cultivation
Less than 50 lbs	felony	5 years	$15,000
50 lbs or more	felony	5 years MMS*	$100,000
Within 1,000 feet of school or on a school bus	felony	20 years	$20,000
Bringing 5 to 45 kg into state	felony	10 years	$10,000
Bringing 45 kg or more into state	felony	25 years	$50,000
*Mandatory minimum sentence.
Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)
Paraphernalia possesion, use, sale, or advertising (first offense)	misdemeanor	none	$500
Paraphernalia possession or sale (second and subsequent offense)	misdemeanor or felony	2 years	$2,000
Any second or subsequent conviction can double first offense penalty.

Details

Possession or use of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Cultivation, delivery or sale of less than 50 pounds of marijuana is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. For 50 pounds or more, the penalties increase to a five-year mandatory minimum sentence and a fine of up to $100,000. If the sale occurs within 1,000 feet of a school, while the school is in session, or on a school bus, the penalty is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. Bringing 5 - 45 kilograms of marijuana into the state is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Transporting 45 kilograms or more into the state is punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. Possession, use or sale of paraphernalia is a criminal fine of $500 for the first offense. For a second or subsequent offense, the penalties increase to a term of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. For any second or subsequent conviction, the sentence may double from that for a first offense.

Mandatory minimum sentence: When someone is convicted of an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence, the judge must sentence the defendant to the mandatory minimum sentence or to a higher sentence. The judge has no power to sentence the defendant to less time than the mandatory minimum. A prisoner serving an MMS for a federal offense and for most state offenses will not be eligible for parole. Even peaceful marijuana smokers sentenced to "life MMS" must serve a life sentence with no chance of parole.

Medical marijuana: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective.

NORML Terps (University of Maryland)
Contact: Matt Zernhelt

Continue reading here: Georgia Marijuana Laws - Cannabis Legal Status in Georgia

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