Second degree assault under Maryland law (and the laws of many states) is often a BS charge that includes any unwanted "touching" of another person, as well as acts that place another person in fear of being touched against their will. This is the kind of crime that cops often charge when they can't find anything else to charge because the subjective nature of the elements. Indeed, the crime includes acts like cocking your fist in defense of a threat, but not actually throwing a punch and waiving your finger in front of a person's face to emphasize a point. It is the least offensive of so-called violent offenses, and it is punishable as a misdemeanor, not a capital offense.
Yes drug dealers are never violent people. Salt of the earth they are.