By Stacey Axler
When Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed the decriminalization of marijuana bill into law on April 14, the Frederick City Police began to strategize on how to battle underage marijuana use in the city.
Though possession of a small amount of marijuana is decriminalized along with the access to medical marijuana for adult use, the Frederick City Police department strives to educate city residents on safe uses of the drug and continue drug education programs for local youths.
The Drug Enforcement Unit hopes to alter the enforcement policies they use for vendors that target tobacco and alcohol to minors to include a policy on marijuana, but currently do not have any plans to combat only marijuana.
Corbett described that the misconceptions of marijuana are the most dangerous facet of the drug. Though considered a “soft drug,” marijuana can be laced with other drugs or substances that might cause harmful side effects.
Corbett described that while drugs are often associated with different side effects and stereotypes, every drug can affect drug users differently.
The City Police Department does not have the materials, such as scales, in the patrol cars to measure the marijuana to see if it is over the decriminalized amount of 10 grams.
City police believe that the recent decriminalization of marijuana foreshadows a legalization of marijuana within the next year or two.
The Frederick City Police now worry that the decriminalization of marijuana will result in more violent crime due to drug dealers not being able to sell as much marijuana.
While Frederick Police are admittedly not interested in citizens who only use marijuana, they do mention that the new law disables their “tool” to use marijuana as a way to revoke probation to get more time for an investigation.
While the law focuses on the decriminalization of marijuana, the Drug Enforcement Unit is more focused on the mitigation of other drugs in the City of Frederick.
Heroin possession has spiked in the City in recent years. The police also often battle the abuse of prescription opiates.
The Drug Enforcement Unit’s goal is to continue to inform and update Frederick City residents about the potential danger of all drugs.
