According to a study conducted by researchers at the George Mason University Mercatus Center, Maryland ranks last among all 50 states in terms of residents' personal freedom. It is ranked 28th in economic freedom, and overall -- only seven states are considered to have less freedom than Maryland.
Why does Maryland rank so low? The answer is complex, and takes into account many of the state's oppressive laws. According to the report published by GMU, Maryland imposes restrictions on personal freedoms in a variety of ways. Gun laws in Maryland are "the second-strictest" in the nation -- the state goes through great lengths to curb firearm trafficking, and additionally, the Constitution of Maryland contains no provision protecting the right to bear arms. Maryland also has harsh marijuana laws and weak medical marijuana laws -- and very high drug-arrest rates. There is a lack of rights reserved for same-sex couples in Maryland. Also, smoking bans have been enacted recently, censuring public smoking greatly. Cigarette taxes have also increased dramatically.
The report offers three policy recommendations for Maryland:
"1. Legalize same-sex civil unions.
2. Strengthen the medical-marijuana law and decriminalize low-level possession.
3. Roll back occupational licensing. Examples of licensed professions not always licensed elsewhere include audiologists, occupational-therapist assistants, private investigators, bartenders, tree trimmers, embalmers, well-drilling journeymen, fire-alarm and security-system installers, and boiler operators."
Are Marylanders at all concerned about their relative lack of freedom? This report seems to have shed light on a perhaps once-ineffable phenomena of government imposition in the state. Many Marylanders were likely not aware of the severity of the issue within the state as compared to others like South Dakota and New Hampshire, which were rated very high in freedom levels for residents. In overall last place for freedom, however, was New York.
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