DPA’s work in Maryland has focused on a wide variety of drug policy and criminal justice reforms with the goal of prioritizing public health and safety over jail time for nonviolent offenders.

In 2004, DPA helped enact a treatment-not-incarceration bill that diverts thousands of nonviolent drug offenders into treatment programs and saves Maryland taxpayers millions of dollars a year in the process. More recently, this success was expanded to address treatment options for people who violate their parole.

DPA has also been instrumental in the medical marijuana movement, as well as in implementing harm reduction policies that save lives. In 2003, Maryland passed a medical marijuana law that offers some recourse for patients arrested for marijuana use. Afterwards, DPA worked with Americans for Safe Access to stage a series of free teach-ins and “know your rights” trainings on medical marijuana. Allies in the state remain committed to building on this initial legislation to ensure that it works effectively in practice.

In 2009, DPA passed “Good Samaritan” legislation that will encourage people to seek medical assistance during an alcohol or other drug overdose by allowing a 911 call to be used as a mitigating factor in future criminal proceedings.

To find out more information about current drug policy and criminal justice legislation being considered in Maryland, visit the General Assembly website.