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
Read MoreMedical Marijuana vs. Firearms Ownership in Maryland
Gunowners in Maryland who want to use medical marijuana to treat their conditions have a tough choice to make: Cannabis or guns? Because marijuana is still federally illegal, those using the plant are banned by federal gun laws from owning or buying firearms. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives notified gun dealers
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. No, the majority of
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,
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
Read MoreMaryland Sex Offenders in the Digital Age
We live in the digital age. The modern workplace mandates use of the internet. Life completely offline isn’t feasible for most people, and that includes Maryland’s approximately 8,000 convicted sex offenders. Sex offender rights include some forms of internet access, albeit with monitoring by law enforcement and prompt reporting by the offender of any change
Read MoreHow Maryland’s New Tough Equal Pay for Equal Work Law Impacts Businesses
During the 2016 Legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed the “Equal Pay for Equal Work” bill with a 103-33 vote in the House of Delegates and 32-13 vote in the Senate. This bill was pushed by many liberal leaning groups including the Maryland affiliate of the Working Families Party. Last month, Governor
Read MoreHow Donald Trump’s Presidency May Impact Estates
The 2016 Presidential campaign had varying proposals from both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in many different areas. One area with the most pronounced differences between the two was on estates. When looking a policy around estate related issues, taxation typically is the most heated topic. On the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton proposed a 65%
Read MoreInfluence of Genetics within the Criminal Mind
Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film Minority Report, set in 2054, focuses on the PreCrime division of a police department. The PreCrime Unit’s job is stopping crimes before they occur. That’s now just 37 years in the future, and it is possible that sci-fi thriller accurately portrays the future. The answer may lie in genetic testing. Society
Read MoreHow the Justice Reinvestment Act Will Impact Criminal Law in Maryland
The Justice Reinvestment Act recently passed in Maryland with the objective of making substantial reforms to the state’s criminal justice system. One of the key themes of this Act is its prioritizing punishment and sentences for inmates based on the nature of the violence in their crimes. The purpose of this Act was to streamline
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