The legalization of marijuana has caused a buzz around Maryland and other liberal leaning states, after Colorado began selling the drug legally on New Year's Day, yet many Maryland stakeholders haven't released an official stance on the issue.
No legalization bill has yet been submitted to the Maryland General Assembly, which just began its 2014 session Wednesday, so it's uncertain exactly what legalizing marijuana in Maryland would look like. It's also unlikely any such bill would pass this year, after Gov. Martin O'Malley voiced his opposition to legalizing marijuana for recreational use Wednesday.
But the tide seems to be turning, and if such a bill were to pass in the future, it's clear that it would affect several state agencies in a major way.
Whether it's because they haven't seen a document draft or because official proceedings haven't begun on the matter, some such agencies haven't yet firmed up a position on the issue.
The Maryland State Police is waiting until a bill is proposed, as the agency wants to review the legislation before forming an official position, according to spokesman Greg Shipley.
"Not having seen the legislation, we're not certain how we would be impacted," he said Wednesday.
For now, it's business as usual.
"We will continue to enforce the laws that are currently in effect," he said, "and if they change, we'd change in accordance with them."
The Maryland Sheriffs' Association Legislation Committee is holding its first meeting Monday, and the issue will be discussed, according to Executive Director Karen J. Kruger. The association opposed legalizing marijuana last year. It will likely form a position for this legislative session within the next two weeks.
Carroll County Sheriff Kenneth Tregoning said it's too early to comment in detail, as he has not seen a draft of the bill. He said his personal, professional opinion was against legalizing marijuana as a recreational drug but declined to comment further. Tregoning is retiring at the end of his term this year.
The Maryland State's Attorneys' Association - comprised of elected state's attorneys from all counties and Baltimore City - is taking a similar approach, according to Scott Shellenberger, the association's vice president in charge of legislation.
"We do want to see the bill, and we do want to make sure everyone has their voice heard," said Shellenberger, who is also the state's attorney for Baltimore County.
Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry Barnes said he's against the measure, as it could lead to the use of harder drugs down the line and would create a new drug-oriented culture.
"At this point in time, it's going to set a horrible example for young children," he said. "If they're at home at night and their parents have bought the quantities that are legal to purchase - if they pass that law and they're sitting around smoking marijuana what are [the children] going to think? That there's nothing wrong with it."
While other agencies might not be directly involved in day-to-day enforcement, they could possibly receive revenue.
Gubernatorial candidate Del. Heather Mizeur, D-Montgomery County, has proposed legalizing marijuana and taxing the drug. According to her proposal, this would generate $157.5 million annually, which she would spend on early childhood education, according to a news release from the Mizeur campaign office.
In Colorado, the first $40 million of tax-generated revenue will be put toward school construction. The rest of the funds will have a different use: They're slated to go toward regulating marijuana stores and launching educational campaigns about the drug, The Denver Post reports.
Bill Reinhard, spokesman for the Maryland State Department of Education, said MSDE doesn't comment on revenue bills.
Reinhard said taking a stance on a marijuana bill after it has been drafted would be a decision for the State Board of Education and he could not speculate whether that would happen.
He also said he did not want to speculate on how legalization of marijuana might affect health education curricula.
Maryland's current health standards include information on both legal substances, including cigarettes and alcohol, and illegal drugs, including marijuana, he said.
Dawn Rathgeber, assistant supervisor of health education for Carroll County Public Schools, said she is monitoring the issue and reading about what's happening in Colorado.
Health classes currently teach students the harmful effects of marijuana and not to use the drug. Even if marijuana were to be legalized, the school system would continue to teach its harmful effects, such as what it does to the body, Rathgeber said.
In Health 2, a high school elective course, there is a debate unit where students present the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana, Rathgeber said.
"They explore the positive and negative effects of marijuana," she said.
If the drug were to be legalized, school officials would look at the legislation and see how it aligns with existing curriculum, Rathgeber said.
Alcohol and cigarettes are legal, but the school system still teaches the harmful effects of each, in keeping with the curriculum. Marijuana would be similar to that.
Even legalized, use would be restricted to those over 18 years old, Rathgeber said.
"[Marijuana] is illegal at this time and will continue to be illegal for kids," she said.
McDaniel College does not yet have a policy regarding the legalization of marijuana, according to spokeswoman Cheryl Knauer.
McDaniel is currently not a smoke-free campus, but smoking inside of or within 20 feet of the main entry of a building is prohibited by Maryland regulations.
"There is also no smoking permitted in any residence hall, house or apartment on campus," she wrote in an email.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene declined to comment as it does not discuss pending legislation until a bill's hearing, according to spokeswoman Karen Black. At the time of a hearing, the department would present a position paper or would testify.
Locally, the Carroll County Health Department does not have an official position on legalizing the drug, according to substance abuse prevention supervisor Linda Auerback.
However, Auerback said marijuana is considered a gateway drug, along with tobacco and alcohol. That means that using it has the potential to lead a person to trying harder drugs.
She noted that marijuana candy and weed oil have become popular locally, and if the law is passed, it could make other forms of the drug more accessible, too.
"If it's legalized then it's just going to be running rampant," Auerback said. "It opens up a whole new can of worms that they're not even thinking of but us in the prevention world are thinking of."
