Photo by julianabrint

Hard at work this weekend, the Maryland House of Delegates has passed one contentious bill while taking up another this morning for debate. Last night, the House passed a bill by 74-66 allowing illegal immigrants who graduate from a Maryland high school access to in-state college tuition rates. As with any acrimonious debate, the bill has a few stipulations: the student must have attended a Maryland high school for three years, intends to seek citizenship, have parents who pay taxes and enroll in community college for the first two years. The bill now goes back to the Senate, which passed a similar bill three weeks ago.

Without skipping a step, this morning the House took up debate on a bill that would give Maryland patients who use marijuana for medical reasons another defense against possible drug charges. This new bill would turn a doctor’s approval into a “get out of jail free” card, avoiding a $100 fine and misdemeanor conviction. Delegates have until midnight Monday to pass the legislation before the General Assembly adjourns.