<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gcr" article_name="Criminal Law" number="5-102" title_number="5" title_name="Controlled Dangerous Substances, Prescriptions, and Other Substances" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The General Assembly finds that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>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</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>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:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>ensure their availability for legitimate medical and scientific purposes; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>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.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This title shall be liberally construed to accomplish this purpose.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
