666                                   LAWS OF MARYLAND                          [CH. 377

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 306B be and it is hereby added to Article 27 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Supplement), title "Crimes
and Punishments," subtitle "Crimes and Punishments," subheading
"Health—Narcotic Drugs," to follow immediately after Section 306A
thereof, and to read as follows:

306B.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this subheading, a court in lieu
of AFTER CONVICTION MAY SUSPEND THE sentencing OF
any narcotic addict found guilty of violating the provisions of this sub-
heading to a penal or correctional institution of this State or one of
the several counties, may have him admitted AND COMMIT
to any appropriate institution, hospital or any other facility in the
State for the treatment of narcotic addicts. The addict shall remain
in the institution or hospital until the Director of the facility is satis-
fied he is no longer addicted to narcotic drugs DETERMINES THAT
HE IS MEDICALLY ELIGIBLE TO BE RELEASED IN THE COM-
MUNITY TO AN AUTHORIZED AFTER CARE PROGRAM. If
the released addict reverts to the use of narcotic drugs, this shall con-
stitute a violation of his terms of release, and he shall be returned to
the facility, where he was originally admitted or shall serve the re-
mainder of his term in the appropriate penal or correctional institu-
tion, at the court's discretion. In any event the length of involuntary
stay in the institution or hospital shall not exceed the length of the
appropriate sentence for the crime, if the addict had been sentenced
to a penal or correctional institution. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE SENTENCING OF ANY-
ONE CONVICTED OF THREE PREVIOUS FELONIES, ANYONE
CONVICTED OF THE SALE OF NARCOTICS, EXCEPT WHERE
SUCH SALE IS INCIDENTAL TO HIS OWN ADDICTION, AND
ANYONE PRESENTLY ON PAROLE, EXCEPT WHEN HIS
PAROLE BOARD DECLARES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION MAY BE APPLIED BY THE COURT.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1966.

Approved April 29, 1966.

CHAPTER 377
(House Bill 328)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 285 and
289 of Article 43 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Re-
placement Volume), title "Health," subtitle "Barbital and Other
Hypnotic Drugs;" to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sec-
tion 313B of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965
Supplement), title and subtitle "Crimes and Punishments," sub-
heading "Health—Amphetamines;" and to add new Section 313C
to said Article and subtitle of the Code, to follow immediately
after Section 313B thereof and to be under the new subheading
"Health—Possession of Amphetamines and Barbiturates," to
change certain penalties for certain drug violations.