Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has signed a bill decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use, smoothing the way for the state’s medical marijuana program to start serving patients later this year.
Possession of cannabis in Virginia has previously been classified as a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days of jail time, a criminal record, and the revocation of driving privileges. HB 972 removes all criminal penalties and replaces them with a $25 fine, making Virginia the 27th state to amend laws to accommodate the public’s evolving perceptions, and usage, of marijuana. The bill also allows prior cannabis conviction records involving possession to be sealed and creates a working group to study the issues surrounding recreational marijuana legalization down the road.
Decriminalization is an important first step in righting some of the wrongs of the drug war, which for decades has led to the disproportionate arrest and incarceration of many marginalized populations.
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