Hemp Farming and the Future of Cannabis in Maryland
In October 2019, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore hosted its first Industrial Hemp Conference. This comes at the end of the first year the federal government has allowed hemp to be grown in the state. The benefits are undeniable – hemp has a multitude of uses and is projected to become a major cash
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My Family Member is Suffering from Drugs and Alcohol – Should I Call My Drug Defense Lawyer?
My Family Member is Suffering from Drugs and Alcohol – Should I Call My Drug Defense Lawyer? When a family member suffers from drug or alcohol abuse, the entire family is affected. In 2017, 1,985 people died from overdose deaths in Maryland. That is a rate of 32.2 deaths per 100,000 persons, as per the
Read MoreWhy is Hiring a Lawyer for a Will Better Than Using Online Software?
The first, and most essential, step in estate planning is composing a will. Your last will and testament let you decide who receives your worldly goods once you die. Think of it as the ultimate financial planning document. Failure to leave a will means your estate falls under Maryland’s law of intestate succession, and your
Read MoreNew Maryland Law: Smuggling Items into Jail and Prison
Corrections officers are not the police, but they are a vital link in the penal system. Like any other job, these civil servants are at risk for the possibility of breaking laws for their own benefit. Not all corrections officers are guilty of wrong doing, and some accused are falsely so. The majority of officers
Read MoreSettling An Estate? Work with a Probate Attorney for Probate Administration/Litigation Advice
It is difficult to deal with our grief when a loved one dies. Our emotional struggles may be compounded by financial and legal stress if we are responsible for overseeing their estate. Probate law in Maryland can be difficult to understand for laypeople and lawyers alike. A probate attorney from the Law Office of Blackford
Read MoreWhat to Do if You Are Experiencing Online Sexual Harassment
If you’re a woman, especially one of the millennial generation, the odds are good that you will experience some type of online harassment or digital stalking. According to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, 21 percent of women aged 18 to 29 report being sexually harassed online. Overall, 70 percent of females believe online harassment
Read MoreI Have Been Accused of a Hate Crime in Maryland. What Should I Do?
Being accused of a hate crime is a terrible thing. Whether or not a person committed such a crime, in today’s atmosphere the allegation is likely to garner a great deal of news and social media attention, and public opinion often presumes a person guilty with little or no evidence. Unfortunately, hate crimes are on
Read MoreWhat Should I Do If I Have a Criminal Record and Can’t Get a Job?
People make mistakes and can turn their lives around. Unfortunately, a criminal record can taint a person for life, no matter how exemplary their behavior after completing any sentence or probation. A criminal record, especially for theft, can prevent otherwise qualified individuals from getting a job. Fortunately, there are some ways in which a person
Read MoreWhat are the Three New House/Senate Bills for Anne Arundel, Maryland?
Since news outlets usually focus on international and national matters, it’s easy for new legislation on the county level to receive less attention than it deserves. In 2016, Governor Larry Hogan signed 106 bills into law, three of which specifically affect Anne Arundel county government. Senate Bill 47 Sponsored by Senator Bryan Simonaire, R-Pasadena, Senate
Read MoreWhat is the Process for Sentence Modification in Maryland?
In October, many of the provisions of the Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) take effect. This extensive revision of Maryland criminal law means that certain mandatory minimum drug sentences may qualify for a retroactive reduction. The JRA “eliminates mandatory minimums for controlled dangerous substances felonies.” It also permits felony drug offenders – although not those considered
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