We did it! Your faxes and emails helped move our Smart On Crime bill out of committee, and now the bill is headed to the entire House of Delegates. Things are moving quickly -- please contact your delegates now and urge them to pass House Bill 845.
 
Not only do we need our allies to vote with us, we need at least ten more votes than last year to make this legislation veto-proof before it crosses over to the Senate side. Contact your delegates now and urge them to support HB 845.
 
Ten votes could make all the difference.

Thank you,

Naomi Long
Director, DC Metro Area
Drug Policy Alliance

More Information

Maryland is one of the last states in the country that treats someone who possesses a very small amount of drugs--often called a "trace" amount--the same as someone who has ten times that amount.

House Bill 845 doesn't touch mandatory minimum sentences for drug kingpins, high volume dealers, or people with violent charges. What it does do is give judges discretion to tailor sentences for people arrested for 56 grams or less of marijuana; 4 grams or less of cocaine, opium or crack cocaine; or 14 grams or less of methamphetamine. This is important because there are lots of nonviolent seller-users in Maryland who are serving or threatened with 10, 25, and 40 year sentences for these amounts.