Possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana has not been a crime in Maryland for more than 5 years, but the full impact of decriminalization is still a work in progress. When simple possession of marijuana became a civil offense, it did far more than simply end thousands of…
Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
What are the Repeat Offender Laws for DUI in Maryland?
Impaired driving laws are constantly evolving in almost every state, and Maryland is no exception. It seems that each year the legislature makes a firm commitment to steadily increase the potential punishments for drunk driving. While many of these initiatives do not end up becoming law, they do garner a…
Ocean City Considers Criminalizing Excessive Boardwalk Noise
The Town of Ocean City, Maryland’s only incorporated beach town, is considering strict noise ordinances that would potentially criminalize loud behavior on the popular boardwalk. The regionally famous boardwalk is home to dozens of businesses including restaurants and hotels, and many have expressed frustration over the unpoliced noise. The same…
Man Pleads Guilty to Arson Offense in Pasadena Bar Fire
It has been almost four years since a popular neighborhood bar in Pasadena burned down and was permanently shuttered, and now an end to the criminal case that followed is in sight. A 36-year-old man from the same Anne Arundel County neighborhood as the bar recently pled guilty to a…
Marijuana Legalization Bills Fail
The legalization of marijuana for recreational use will not become a reality in Maryland this year, as state politicians have conceded that their efforts will have to wait until 2022. The work of several lawmakers in Annapolis sparked interest across party lines over the possibility of regulating marijuana for recreational…
State Allows Full Capacity for Casinos- Revenue Still Down
The Maryland governor recently announced that state casinos will no longer be prohibited from operating at full capacity under state law, but some local restrictions are still in place and revenues remain lower at all gaming establishments. State orders had previously limited capacity to 50 percent at each of the…
Poll Shows Strong Support for Marijuana Legalization
The week Goucher College released the results of several polls including those related to concerns over the state government’s handling of COVID-19 and the general attitude toward the vaccine. The Towson based liberal arts college also conducted a poll on the attitude toward marijuana legalization, and the results may come…
PG County Man Guilty of Manufacturing Counterfeit Currency
This week at the Greenbelt Federal Courthouse a 32-year-old man from Prince George’s County pleaded guilty to manufacturing and passing counterfeit currency. Sentencing is currently set for early June, and the defendant faces up to 5 years in prison for conspiracy to pass counterfeit currency and up to 20 years…
Lawmakers Debate Ghost Gun Regulations
Over the last couple of years law enforcement has seen a dramatic uptick in the presence of build-at-home firearms commonly known as ghost guns. Ghost guns are typically ordered online and delivered to a person in a kit with several unfinished parts. These parts require some degree of machining, with…
Marijuana Legalization Bills Set for Debate
Two marijuana legalization bills are scheduled to be debated by lawmakers in Annapolis in the coming weeks, and there is an outside chance we could see legalization at least a year sooner than once thought. The bill we will discuss in the article is currently scheduled for debate in the…