Maryland drug diversion programs offer alternatives to incarceration for individuals facing criminal charges due to substance use disorders. These programs are designed to provide treatment and support instead of traditional criminal penalties. When are drug diversions available to offenders in Maryland? There are some circumstances under which drug diversion programs may be considered as alternatives to incarceration in Maryland. Here are some considerations that are made: Nature of the offense: Drug diversion programs are typically [...]

With the start of the new school year in September 2023, students, teachers, and parents need to understand how Maryland’s new recreational marijuana law applies. Fundamentally, anyone who attends a school, works in a school, or provides daycare services needs to understand that there are state laws and there are educational regulations. Violations of the laws may result in criminal charges. Violations of the educational regulations may result in disciplinary actions, including suspension, expulsion, termination, [...]

Field sobriety tests (FSTs) have long been utilized by law enforcement to detect alcohol impairment in drivers. However, with the recent legalization of marijuana in Maryland, concerns arise regarding the potential use of similar tests for marijuana impairment on drivers. Given the flaws in the long-used field sobriety tests for alcohol impairment, we should question the efficacy of reapplying this already flawed system to marijuana users. How can we trust in the reliability of a [...]

A drug conviction carries much more than just immediate legal penalties. Beyond things like fines, probation, or prison time, individuals convicted of drug crimes can face what’s called “collateral consequences.” These can have a significant effect on one’s life. Collateral consequences, which can extend long beyond a direct sentence, can affect various aspects of your personal, professional, and social life. Today we want to discuss the collateral consequences of a drug conviction and how they [...]

Possession of small amounts of marijuana used to be illegal in Maryland. The good news is that voters in the November 2022 election decided that enough was enough, approving a ballot question to make it legal for adults 21 and over to possess, smoke, and grow recreational marijuana. The ballot initiative applies to the possession of up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana. According to the Washington Post: Possession of fewer than 1.5 ounces of marijuana [...]

Different states have different rules for use and possession of medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. The differences can make it hard to understand your rights if you travel to different states for work, for pleasure, or to visit friends and family. Do you need to take your medical marijuana card with you? Does it matter whether your marijuana is an edible product or a cigarette that you smoke? Are you okay if you fly from [...]

Prescription drugs are intended for use by which only the person they are prescribed. However, sometimes that person shares their medication with another. This act brings the question of whether a person can go to prison for sharing prescription drugs. Many Maryland residents are under the impression that if they obtain medications from a relative, it is not illegal. After all, you are not getting illicit drugs from the shady drug dealer on the corner. [...]

The pandemic has been difficult for all of us. A new and contagious virus combined with the solitude of staying at home to avoid catching it makes our lives different and more complicated than they have been in the past. It makes sense that many of us are seeking outlets to escape the situations that we find ourselves in. As difficult as the average person has had it, it is without question that medical personnel [...]