The Maryland Senate will wait until later this week to debate a proposal to decriminalize marijuana in Maryland.
After brief discussion on Tuesday, senators decided to postpone debate on Senate Bill 364, which has been introduced by Sens. Bobby Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, and Allan Kittleman, R-Howard. The bill would decriminalize pot by making possession of up to 10 grams a civil offense, punishable by a fine.
Several amendments are expected to be introduced when senators resume discussion on the legislation. Among them is one proposed change floated Tuesday by Sen. Christopher Shank, R-Washington.
Shank's amendment would ensure judges can order treatment for persistent marijuana users. The amendment says anyone caught in possession of marijuana three or more times would be required to appear in court, and a judge would be allowed to order treatment. But there still would not be criminal charges for possessing 10 grams or less.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 8-3 last week to send the bill to the full Senate floor.
The full Senate passed a similar marijuana decriminalization bill proposed by Zirkin last year. But the legislation died at its next stop in the House Judiciary Committee, where committee chairman Del. Joe Vallario, D-Calvert, expressed reluctantance to allow a vote on the bill.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee still hasn't moved forward with a separate bill that would legalize marijuana possession altogether.
Meanwhile, the General Assembly's crossover deadline is looming. Bills must pass out of at least one chamber by the close of business on March 17.
Proponents of loosening state marijuana laws say possession arrests eat up resources that could better be used elsewhere.
Opponents of changes in the marijuana laws - including the board of governors of the Maryland State's Attorney's Association - say that before acting the state should see how legalization in Colorado and Washington plays out.
In Anne Arundel County, 1,144 people were arrested for marijuana possession in 2012, according to Maryland's Uniform Crime Report. Maryland has averaged 24,065 marijuana possession arrests a year over the last five years, nearly 10,000 more a year than for opium/cocaine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
