Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Gov. Martin O'Malley has signed a bill that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana starting in October.
Maryland is now the 17th state in the U.S. to decriminalize marijuana. The Democratic governor says the law should improve public safety by freeing police officers to focus on more serious threats.
The Maryland State's Attorneys Association sent O'Malley a letter Friday, urging him to veto the measure. The group's president says the bill was passed too hastily. Charles Smith wanted amendments that would keep it a crime to smoke pot in public or carry it onto school property.
O'Malley also approved a measure to improve the distribution of medical marijuana.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
