On Friday, March 14, a bill for the decriminalization of marijuana in Maryland won preliminary approval in the state Senate. The goal of the bill is to change possession of small amounts of marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil offense, resulting in avoiding jail time and instead paying a small fine.

The current law states the possession of limited amounts of marijuana is a misdemeanor subject to no more than 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. The new law, if passed, would punish adult offenders with a fine of $100 and force minors to attend substance abuse classes.

“I think the new punishments are more appropriate because sending people to jail for small amounts of marijuana does not make sense. It does not reflect a good social structure,” IB Signature Coordinator Mark Griffiths said.

The Senate voted 36-8 in favor of the bill, Senate Bill 364. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Sens. Bobby Zirkin (D) and Allan Kittleman (R), passed through the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee one week earlier.

According to the “Washington Post”, the bill will now head to the House of Delegates, where similar legislation died in 2013.

The success of this bill is reflective of the shift of public opinion on marijuana in Maryland. A recent Baltimore Sun poll showed that 58% favored a shift away from criminal penalties for marijuana possession, 28% think possession should be treated as a traffic ticket and 30% think it should be legalized and taxed.

“I think from a legal standpoint, fewer minorities in Maryland will go to prison for drugs. Typically minorities are the ones punished for these laws anyway as opposed to the majority. I think it won’t change any activities or drug use but it will keep people out of prison who should not be there,” Griffiths said.

Although it is illegal under federal law, 20 states, along with the District of Columbia, allow marijuana use for treatment of certain ailments. Only Washington and Colorado have legalized it for recreational use.