Maryland Senate Committee Approves House-Backed Bill to Legalize Cannabis Concentrate Production for Personal Use, Expand Resentencing Options
- House Bill 413 has passed the House of Delegates and is moving towards a vote in the full Senate.
- The bill allows individuals 21 and older to manufacture cannabis products for personal use or sharing at a private residence, as long as volatile solvents are not used in the process.
- Sentencing laws for high-volume cannabis offenses would be modified, reducing penalties for volume dealers and kingpins, and allowing for sentence reductions for certain individuals serving mandatory minimum sentences for cannabis-related offenses.
- The legislation also increases penalties for firearm-related crimes, including possessing a stolen firearm or trafficking firearms for illegal sale, making these violations felonies rather than misdemeanors.
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House Bill 413 previously passed its third reading in the House of Delegates on March 13 by a vote of 101 to 37. The measure now moves towards a vote of the full Senate.
“A person who is at least 21 years old may manufacture a personal use amount of cannabis products or concentrated cannabis for personal use or adult sharing at a private residence if the manufacturing process does not involve the use of a volatile solvent,” states the proposed law. Additionally, the legislation modifies sentencing laws for high-volume cannabis offenses, reducing penalties for volume dealers and drug kingpins involved in marijuana-related activities. The bill also allows certain individuals serving mandatory minimum sentences for specific cannabis-related offenses to apply for a sentence reduction under defined conditions.
Beyond cannabis provisions, HB 413 increases penalties for certain firearm-related crimes, making violations such as possessing a stolen firearm or trafficking firearms for illegal sale a felony rather than a misdemeanor.