Maryland has become the sixth state in as many years and the 18th state overall to ban the death penalty. Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley signed a repeal of capital punishment into law Thursday following its passage by state lawmakers last month. The law replaces death sentences with life terms without the chance of parole, but not for the five prisoners already sent to death row. In a statement, Human Rights Watch said: “[Governor] O’Malley should ensure that the death penalty is never again used in Maryland by immediately commuting the sentences of all five death row inmates.” At the signing ceremony, O’Malley also enacted dozens of other laws, including the legalization of medical marijuana, an expansion of early voting, and allowing driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.