House Passes Medical Marijuana Bill
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A measure that would give Maryland residents who use marijuana for medical reasons a new defense with a doctor's approval has been approved by the House of Delegates.
The House passed the bill on Saturday. It would enable someone to avoid a $100 fine and misdemeanor conviction, if a doctor says the drug were being used for medical reasons.
A doctor's note, testimony from a doctor or medical records could be used by someone in defense to avoid a conviction.
The Senate already has passed a bill, but the House made a change that the Senate would need to adopt Monday to send the bill to Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley. The measure also includes plans to study medical marijuana in Maryland.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
