The threat of liability under this act serves as an additional deterrent to a recognizable segment of the network for marketing controlled dangerous substances. Because of this threat, a person who has assets unrelated to the sale of controlled dangerous substances, who markets controlled dangerous substances at the workplace, who encourages friends to become users, is likely to decide that the added cost of entering the market is not worth the benefit. This is particularly true for a first-time, casual dealer who has not yet made substantial profits. This act is intended to provide a mechanism whereby the costs of the injuries caused by illegal drug use will be borne by those who benefit from illegal drug dealing. This act imposes liability against all participants in the marketing of controlled dangerous substances, including small dealers, particularly those in the workplace, who are not usually the focus of criminal investigations.
Small dealers increase the number of users and ultimately are the people who become large dealers.
It is these small dealers who are most likely to be deterred by the threat of liability. A person who knowingly participates in the illegal marketing of controlled dangerous substances within this State is liable for damages, as provided in this act, for injury resulting from an individual's illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance. An individual who was exposed to a controlled dangerous substance in utero. An employer of the controlled dangerous substance user. A person injured as a result of the reckless or negligent actions of an individual user of a controlled dangerous substance.