The new year is changing some of Maryland's marijuana laws.
Marylanders voted to legalize the drug in November's general election.
While the full legalization doesn't go into effect until July, the new year started a 'transitional' period.
It means if you're caught between now and July 1 with one and half ounces of marijuana, you will only get a civil offense with a maximum fine of up to $100.
"I think it's a good thing," said Jeremy Brown.
Some like Jeremy feels the legalization of marijuana will lessen some of the safety concerns, and feels this transition phase is the first big step in doing so.
"When you go into a lot of the corner stores a lot of the guys kind of harass you with the marijuana," Jeremy said. "If you can go into a dispensary and grab it legally I think tray eliminates a lot of harassment and a lot of safety concerns."
If you have between one and half and two ounces, you can get fined up to $250.
More than that, it's a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and or a $1,000 fine.
Others like Janelle Brown agrees with the change in criminal penalties for marijuana and says there are bigger issues for police to focus on.
"I think that most of the people that are being penalized for marijuana, they're not the ones who that they need to be looking for. They're not the ones that's probably taking some of these people out, why the numbers so high here. I think they should be focusing on the people who are doing other things than marijuana," said Janelle.
In addition, someone who has been convicted of marijuana possession may ask the courts to expunge their sentence once they have completed it.
Before 2023, that person had to wait four years.
All possession charges in the state have to be removed from court listings by July 1, 2024.
