BALTIMORE, MD.  —  We need to commit our full efforts and resources to get violent criminals off our streets. It's important that we look at common sense approaches to laws governing personal possession of marijuana, as cities across the nation have done on the East and West Coasts, including New York, Philadelphia, St.Louis and Reno. 

I am supportive of what State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby is attempting to address, namely the unnecessary criminalization of those who possess marijuana merely for personal use. But at the same time, we also need to understand that those who deal illegal substances fuel criminality in our neighborhoods which leads to violence. We cannot, nor will we, let-up in our efforts to eliminate violent crime at its source. I want to urge our legislative colleagues to look carefully at these issues and at best practices underway elsewhere, in collaboration with the State’s Attorney and law enforcement leadership to determine an approach that is unified, consistent in its application and in the best interests of our communities.

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh