Politics & Government

Gov. O'Malley Opposes Legalizing Marijuana in Maryland

"I've seen what drug addiction has done to the people of our state." - O'Malley

Gov. Martin O’Malley announced his opposition to legalizing marijuana in Maryland for recreational use.

O’Malley spoke about his position during the annual "Annapolis Summit" radio broadcast hosted by Marc Steiner of WEAA 88.9 FM on Wednesday, the first day of the 90-day General Assembly session.

"I’ve seen what drug addiction has done to the people of our state and the people of our city," O’Malley, a former Baltimore mayor, said, according to the The Washington Post.

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The possibility of legalizing recreational marijuana use in Maryland has picked up momentum since Washington state and Colorado decriminalized the drug. The proposal could gain some traction during the current session, especially since Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller has expressed support for it.

The issue could also play a role in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, which is scheduled for this June. Del. Heather Mizeur, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, released a plan late last year to that would decriminalize marijuana and use revenue from its taxation to help pay for universal pre-kindergarten.  

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Both of Mizeur's rival campaigns for the Democratic nomination, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Attorney General Doug Gansler, have previously acknowledged that the public's attitude about marijuana use has shifted, but fell short of backing legalization.  


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