FROM: Sheriff Reggie Mason
WHO: Maryland Chiefs of Police and Maryland Sheriff’s Association
WHAT: Police Chiefs and Sheriff’s opposing legalization and decriminalization of marijuana
WHEN: February 25, 2014 - 11AM
WHERE: Lawyers’ Mall, Annapolis
Senate Bills 364 and 658 Opposed by MCPA and MSA
Senate Bill 658, “The Marijuana Taxation and Regulation Act,” would essentially legalize marijuana which is now a controlled dangerous substance. Senate Bill 364 would decriminalize the possession and use of marijuana changing Maryland law to enable the possession of 10 grams or less and alter the penalty to a civil offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $100. Chiefs and Sheriffs, representing the Maryland law enforcement community, understand the basis of the legislation but nevertheless are adamantly opposed. Maryland law enforcement executives believe, if enacted, this legislation will have a potentially crippling effect on public safety, highway safety and, most troubling, will negatively impact children.
A wide range of studies and verifiable facts clearly show that the recreational use of marijuana is not only controversial but produces psychological and physical problems particularly injurious to the health of adolescents. Traffic accidents, particularly fatalities, are often caused by drivers under the influence of illegal drugs. Marijuana is notably responsible for an increase in such accidents in states where decriminalization has occurred. The detect ability of marijuana in drivers presents troubling difficulty for law enforcement and prosecution. Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana will also negatively impact our police officers’ ability to detect and interdict other illegal drugs which surely hurts public safety and may contribute to violence and other crimes. These are just a few of the many reasons why marijuana decriminalization is bad public policy and injurious to public safety.
Collectively, as partners who represent Maryland law enforcement, and as advocates for the safety of every citizen and visitor of Maryland, MCPA and MSA are opposed to SB 364 and SB 658. We invite members of the media to discuss this legislation and learn of the negative impact should it become law. Please join us at Lawyers’ Mall in Annapolis on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 11AM.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
12 comments:
I agree Reggie. A wide range of studies show that we don't need to give the government our money.
And people do not need to be in PRISON for smoking weed. That's crazy. Make alcohol illegal and weed legal. Drunks belong in jail. They get drunk act crazy, fight, drive and kill people and commit crimes they wouldn't normally commit if sober. It makes no sense at all.
well of course they oppose it. It is a threat to their job security.
Don't forget, it's legal for cops to lie to you.
Perhaps the sheriff could broaden his perspective and read up on the current lit re. pot.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/overcoming-addiction/201401/drunk-driving-more-deadly-drugged-driving-far
hope fully the assembly listens to them like they did about our guns!
Of course cops would not want this, this takes away from their power to beat the crap out of you when you say they are lying about smelling weed coming from the car and that they can not perform an illegal search...
cops don't want anything that will take away their powers to abuse the powers and anything that will make their work actual work...
The cops can't use the swat raids to murder people with their 5 year long investigation whereas they show up to the wrong house number on the wrong street which is the wrong color and size and even on the wrong side of the street with the wrong name on the mailbox... But hey its ok that they murder us right? after all those drones will help them make sure the door they are kicking in is the right one won't they? its all for the kids right?
Ley everybody grow 20 plants in the yard and call it a day. This will stop those buyers who have to go to the Heroin and Crack store in order to buy it.
Those guys will then go out of business for the most part because they won't be able to claim a bud shortage as a reason to sell them the harder stuff. No sale means Mr. Piggy gets less busts because Heroine and cocaine have pretty much left the area. Less work release income for the PD, and less crimes to fight in general.
That would mean job cuts for the PD.
Good reason to fight legalization!
Think about it, and follow the money. Lawyers unemployed, assistant State's Attorneys laid off; Oh, the carnage! What on earth are the judges going to do all day???
A certain physicians assistant in town believes pot is a gateway drug to harder drugs. She is relatively young so I blame that for her not really knowing what she is talking about.
And good ole Davis Ruark is right behind her saying the same things, all the way from Colorado. lol.
You lost here dude, and I suspect it won't take long for Co. to get rid of your useless self too.
Then what will you do?
Maybe you and the doc wannabe can walk around carrying signs saying the end is near or something.
That would serve about as much service and your outdated and unfounded opinions do.
Total baloney.
Sheriffs are bummed by the thought of losing federal and state drug intercession funding and property confiscation, along with lawyers, who make a quick $5 grand on every tiny possession case.
Enough, already!!
12:25
You hit it on the head!
They could all reap the tax benefits overall.
will those le individuals that don't like pot legalization confess that they have tried marijuana and it rendered them brain dead?
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