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Omnibus criminal bill would cut cannabis mandatory minimums, add firearms felonies; public defenders and prosecutors differ
Summary
An omnibus bill heard by the House Judiciary Committee would strike mandatory minimums for some nonviolent cannabis offenses, provide resentencing openings tied to historic crack/cocaine sentencing disparities, and raise penalties for certain firearms offenses; witnesses voiced sharply different views by topic.
House Bill 413, presented by Delegate Moon, packaged changes across drug and firearms law — removing mandatory minimum sentences for certain cannabis offenses, allowing resentencing for some prior crack-cocaine convictions, clarifying protections for casual household cannabis processing, and upgrading several firearm-related offenses from misdemeanors to felonies.
Sponsor testimony noted mandatory 20-year minimums for nonviolent cannabis offenses remain "out of step" with Maryland's cannabis legalization…
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