442

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 21

(II)  TO PROTECT SOCIETY AGAINST THE SOCIAL
CONTAGION OF DRUG DEPENDENCE; AND

(III)  TO MEET THE NEED OF DRUG ABUSERS FOR
MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
WITHOUT UNDUE INTERFERENCE WITH LIBERTY.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section formerly appeared as
Article 43B, § 1.

In the introductory clause of subsection (a) of
this section, the former reference to the report
of the Maryland Commission to Study the Problems
of Drug Addiction is deleted. The original
findings of the General Assembly were based
partly on that report, which was submitted in
1969.

In subsection (a)(2) of this section, the defined
term "person{s}" is substituted for
"individuals and organizations."

In subsection (a)(3) of this section, the defined
term "drug" is substituted for the reference to
"narcotics and other dangerous drugs", for
clarity and consistency.

Subsection (a)(4) of this section is revised in
general language to avoid the former specific
reference to a percentage of crime, which is
possibly obsolete and is unnecessary.

In subsection (a)(4) of this section, the defined
term "drug addict{s}" is substituted for the
reference to crimes of "drug abusers". This
substitution reinstates the reference in former
Article 43B, § 1, as enacted by Ch. 404, Acts of
1969. The substitution of the broader term "drug
abuser" by Ch. 883, Acts of 1980, was evidently
inadvertent, in light of the continued reference
to problems related to "drug addiction".

In subsection (b)(2)(ii) of this section, the
reference to a drug abuser who is "accused" of a
crime is added for completeness since former
Article 43B, § 1(c) referred to those "drug
abusers who are not accused of crimes, as well as
drug abusers convicted of crimes", but was silent
as to drug abusers who are accused, but not
convicted.

The only other changes are in style.

Defined terms: "Drug" § 9-101

"Drug abuse" § 9-101 "Drug dependence" § 9-101