By Jamone Davis
After a long journey of debates and heated discussions, the Maryland Senate voted 35-12 to pass SB 627, a bill that would allow people who fit the requirements to receive medical marijuana from their doctors. People who are caught with 10 grams or less of marijuana would receive a citation and/or be fined without the incident going on their record.
The bill is set to take effect in October this year. It does not make paraphernalia legal by any means and any officer that pulls someone over that smells weed has probable cause to search the vehicles.
Now, some delegates felt different about this new law. In no way, shape or form do they feel this new law is acceptable.
“House of Delegates, you can do better. Our people deserve better. Our kids deserve a better message, and this is not it,” said Del. Michael McDermott, a representative of Somerset County.
What message is this bill actually sending to the students still in school? The fact that this new law is now giving a fine for possession of a certain amount instead of a slap on the wrist for having it at all is simply not acceptable especially for Frederick high school parents.
Sharon Crawford, mother of senior at Frederick High School, is disgusted with the new law.
“I don’t tolerate it as a parent. I’m completely against my child or any child smoking weed,” she state. “You can’t charge them if you legalize it! It’s stupid to charge them only for a certain amount.”
The new law does effect the Frederick County area in multiple ways, but when it comes to the schools there is still a no tolerance for any kind of drug especially for marijuana.
According to the data collected by Frederick County Sheriff’s office, Frederick County has seen a tremendous increase in the use and sale of marijuana. The year 2013 had almost five times more seizures than the year 2012.
Late in 2013, Frederick County was designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by The Office of National Drug Control Policy.
“Current national drug policy is ‘Say no to drugs’” stated Capt. Tim Clarke of Frederick Sheriff’s Department. “Keep in mind that marijuana is still an illegal drug by federal standard.”
The community of Frederick recently came together to educate parents and others about drug awareness and how it needs to still be educated. Among the crowd of people who were spreading the drug awareness were city officials, teachers, and concerned parents who do know about marijuana and the effects it would have on students.
In Frederick County, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are the most abused substances for teenagers in the community.
Marijuana is ranked the top three proponents for things that high school student’s abuse in multiple categories so there is always a need to educate the youth on why they should say no to drugs.
The D.A.R.E programs are not continued in Frederick County schools, but the community has made it its main priority to ensure the students that it’s still illegal and that they should not possess, consume, or be around any form of drug especially marijuana.
Considering the fact marijuana is a known gateway drug, officers and teachers will continue to educate students that it’s not the way to go. Even without the D.A.R.E program, the community will continue to come together to educate the youth.