Maryland lawmakers decriminalized marijuana possession last year. Before this year’s session is out, they’re looking to take took pipes off the list.
Both houses of the General Assembly passed a bill that would change marijuana paraphernalia from a criminal to civil offense. The bill doesn’t make it legal to have a pipe, but decreases penalties from a criminal charge and potential jail time to a fine.
According to the Capital News Service, an amendment was also proposed in the Senate to decriminalize smoking weed in public, but that failed by a mere two votes. In the final version, however, the maximum fine for puffing in public was decreased from $1,000 to $500.
Gov. Larry Hogan still needs to sign the bill in order for it to become law.
