In a sign of the times, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Monday signed into law a bill that would decriminalize possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana, making his state the 17th in the nation to do so. O'Malley, who is believed to be considering a White House bid, said in a statement that his decision was "an acknowledgment of the low priority that our courts, our prosecutors, our police, and the vast majority of citizens already attach to this transgression of public order and public health.”
Indeed, a vast majority does think our nation's drug laws are outdated. In a Pew survey released earlier this month, two-thirds of respondents said the government should focus more on providing drug treatment than prosecuting users. And support for legalizing marijuana — not just decriminalizing possession of small amounts of it — is rapidly on the rise.
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