Well the 2014 session is over and it sure ended with a bang. A full recap is forthcoming, but here is your Baltimore Criminal Lawyer‘s winners and losers.
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer 2014 General Assembly Session Winners
- Pot Smokers – Marijuana possession less than 10g is now a civil infraction (essentially an expensive parking ticket). any amount more than 10g is still criminal and may still result in jail time…unless
- Medical marijuana users – now legal! Get your dispensary card ready!
- Workers – Minimum wage was raised to $10.10 per hour over the course of the next few years.
- Victims of domestic violence – it will be easier to obtain protective and peace orders for victims in domestic situations.
- Office of the Public Defender – got money to hire/pay for more lawyers at commissioner reviews (don’t get us started on the mess that is Richmond v. Dewolfe).
- Pre-K – expanded pre-K will become available to more families.
- Microbrewers – can now sell their craft at farmer’s markets!
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer 2014 General Assembly Session Losers
- District Court Bail system – an inherently flawed and problematic system, no consensus was reached on any meaningful overhaul of the bail system.
- Speed Cameras – Bills were successfully passed that limit the reach of the dreaded speed cameras.
- Baltimore – greater oversight of the Baltimore City Liquor Board, through legislation and a website established to allow transparency to the processes.
- Taxpayers – The rain tax stands.
- Appointed School Board members in Baltimore County – A bill was passed allowing 4 (of 12) elected members of the Baltimore County School Board.
- Taxicabs – Companies like Uber are still not regulated, after attempts to curtail them failed.
- Health care exchange – Yup…it still doesn’t work well and nothing was done to fix it.
- College kids – grain alcohol has been banned.
Baltimore Criminal Lawyer Bottom Line
There are a lot of questions your Baltimore Criminal Lawyer has about the final Marijuana bills (as I’m sure all our clients do too), but our office will have a full recap in a month or two, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if you need our services for a marijuana case, which is still illegal and criminal, don’t forget to keep your ENlawyer’s number handy!
