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Lawmakers legalize possession, distribution of heroin paraphernalia
The Maryland General Assembly on Monday night passed legislation to legalize the possession and distribution of heroin paraphernalia, including needles and syringes. The Senate vote was 28-19; the House tally was 95-38. The Senate tally would fall one short of the 29 affirmative votes needed to override a veto by Gov. Larry Hogan, should he […]
Md. Senate passes bill legalizing paraphernalia possession
The Maryland Senate split largely on party lines Wednesday in passing legislation legalizing the possession of heroin paraphernalia, including needles and syringes. Democratic sponsors of the Senate Bill 420 called the legislation necessary to protect the health and safety of heroin addicts, who often resort to used, broken, shared or homemade needles to support their […]
Good Samaritan law protects drugs users from prosecution, Md. court says
Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law protects from drug possession prosecution not only those who request medical assistance for a suspected overdose but also those for whom help is sought, the state’s second-highest court ruled Wednesday in overturning two heroin convictions. The statute – found at Section 1-210 of the Criminal Procedure Article – states that a […]
Appeals court reverses manslaughter conviction in fatal overdose case
The Court of Special Appeals on Friday reversed an involuntary manslaughter conviction for a man who sold heroin to a friend who later overdosed, finding there was no evidence that the man knew the drugs were unusually dangerous. Nathan Johnson was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, possession with intent to distribute and possession of heroin […]
Md. high court reinstates manslaughter conviction for heroin distribution
Selling heroin to someone who later overdoses can rise to the level of manslaughter under certain circumstances, the state’s high court ruled Monday in a case watched by prosecutors around Maryland. The Court of Appeals, in a 4-3 decision, reinstated the conviction of Patrick Joseph Thomas, who had been sentenced to 20 years for distribution and […]
Supreme Court appeal rests on what Simon didn’t say
A drug-sniffing dog’s failure to give a definitive alert to Ocean City police forms the basis of a convicted would-be heroin dealer’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. In his bid for high court review, Ryan Steck claims officers in the beachfront city lacked probable cause to search the car he was in during a […]
Maryland man sentenced for heroin sales in West Virginia
A Maryland man has been sentenced to 17 ½ years in federal prison for selling heroin in West Virginia.
Md. mom who had heroin-addicted baby gets 30 years for his death
A Baltimore woman whose baby was likely born addicted to heroin and survived only nine days will serve 30 years in prison.
5 guilty in drug cases involving convicted police officer
Federal prosecutors say five men have been convicted in a heroin trafficking ring that was protected by a corrupt Baltimore police officer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday that the five men were convicted last week of conspiracy to traffic heroin and cocaine. Prosecutors say the ring sold 37 pounds (17 kilograms) […]
Hogan calls on prosecutors to get tough on heroin, opioid dealers
Gov. Larry Hogan called on state’s attorneys from around Maryland to ramp up their prosecution of heroin dealers as part of a growing effort to address the heroin and opiate crisis. Hogan, appearing in St. Mary’s County for the announcement of charges against eight individuals charged with the deaths of individuals to whom they allegedly […]
Hogan still supports overhauled opioid-penalty bill
After undergoing a major overhaul in a Senate committee, a bill which started out as a way to punish individuals who distribute an opioid that is linked to a user’s death now instead would create an enhanced penalty for distribution of a mixture of controlled dangerous substances that contains fentanyl. Senate Bill 359 was amended […]
As Hogan declares state of emergency, opioid death bill draws questions from lawmakers
As the Hogan administration provides more money to fight the heroin and opioid crisis in Maryland, legislation to increase penalties for distributing an opioid linked to a fatal overdose drew criticism in the General Assembly as a step backward to drug enforcement policies that have failed before. Gov. Larry Hogan included the legislation in his […]
