Morning Notes

September 29, 2014 9:00 a.m.

State Elections Board: Leggett Shouldn't Have Used Campaign Money For Foreign Trips — The Maryland State Board of Elections ruled this month that County Executive Isiah Leggett improperly used $9,200 in campaign funds for trips to El Salvador, Ethiopia and China between 2011 and 2013. The Board also disallowed a $12,700 loan from Leggett to his campaign to fund travel expenses for the September 2013 trip to China. Leggett said he has repaid his campaign committee the $9,200 and that he used the campaign funds instead of county funds to save money for county taxpayers. [Washington Post]

Democrats Open Campaign Office In Bethesda — The Maryland Democratic Party on Sunday opened its "2014 Bethesda Coordinated Campaign Headquarters" in a Woodmont Avenue office building. The space will act as a phone bank for volunteers. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown, attorney general candidate Brian Frosh and many of the candidates for state legislature positions were at the office to mark the opening. [Anthony Brown Campaign]

Marijuana Decriminalization Kicks In This Week — Wednesday, Oct. 1 will bring a batch of new state laws into effect, including the decriminalization measure that will make getting caught with less than 10 grams of marijuana a civil charge and not a criminal offense. [WAMU]

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