Maryland HB 911 (Anderson) /SB 531 (Raskin) is the 36 page Marijuana Control and Revenue Act of 2015.  The purpose section of this bill is 1.5 pages; its complexity is beyond the scope of this post.  Here are some highlights:

• Repeals a good portion of Maryland Criminal Law Article 5-601
• Establishes personal use quantities of 1 oz. or less of marijuana, 5 gm or less of hashish, 16 oz. of marijuana products, and 72 oz. of liquid form marijuana
• Proposes that people 21 and older will not be arrested/charged with a crime for using, obtaining, transporting, or possessing personal use quantities of marijuana
• Proposes marijuana cultivation rules
  • Facility licenses to be issued by the Comptroller (100) and the license fee is $10,000 year 1, $5,000 subsequent years
• Proposes retail distribution rules
  • Controlled through Comptroller’s office, including determining who gets licenses
  • Retailers must include safety inserts approved by Comptroller’s office
• Proposes a tax
  • Excise tax on marijuana cultivation facilities
    • Rate of $50 per oz. of marijuana flowers;
    • Rate of $10 per oz. of marijuana leaves; OR
    • An amount the “Comptroller may set that adjusts the initial rate for inflation or deflation based on the Consumer Price Index”

These are the basic highlights.  There is much bureaucracy in the bill and it adds about 30 pages to current Maryland code.

This bill is assigned to two committees in the House - Judiciary and Ways and Means.  Judiciary hearing is 2/24/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Send email to the House Judiciary Committee

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This bill is assigned to two committees in the Senate - Judicial Proceedings and Budget and Taxation.  Judicial Proceedings hearing is 3/4/15 at 1:00 p.m.
Send email to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee

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