{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-5-102","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Law § 5–102","heading":"","body":"(a) The General Assembly finds that:\n(1) many of the substances listed in this title have a useful and legitimate medical purpose and are necessary to maintain the health and general welfare of the people of the State; but\n(2) the illegal manufacture, distribution, possession, and administration of controlled dangerous substances have a substantial and detrimental effect on the health and general welfare of the people of the State.\n(b) (1) The purpose of this title is to establish a uniform law to control the manufacture, distribution, possession, and administration of controlled dangerous substances and related paraphernalia to:\n(i) ensure their availability for legitimate medical and scientific purposes; but\n(ii) prevent their abuse, which results in a serious health problem to the individual and represents a serious danger to the welfare of the people of the State.\n(2) This title shall be liberally construed to accomplish this purpose.","path":["Article - Criminal Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr\u0026section=5-102","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:08Z","sha256":"05ef8888fa43ed728af4737b1c2a3327d46f709a635d68d2859cf3b17c4415d8","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-5-101","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-5-103"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}