Committee kills marijuana decriminalization after hearing

For the second straight year, in 2011 Del. Harvey Morgan (R-Gloucester) introduced legislation that would have replaced criminal penalties for simple marijuana possession with a civil fine of $500. Despite the impassioned testimony from advocates, a lobby day organized by our allies, and lack of any opposition testimony, Rep. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock) led the efforts to kill the bill, HB 1443. In a voice vote, the committee decided to “pass by indefinitely.” The legislature adjourned on February 27 without any further action.

Please email and call your state delegate and ask him or her to support marijuana decriminalization. Virginians must continue to pressure their elected officials, so that they will realize their constituents support decriminalizing marijuana. If you are a person who has seen the negative consequences of Virginia’s marijuana policies, or are a supportive economist, law enforcement official, or clergy member, please email state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help.

This year, the General Assembly also failed to pass H.B. 1463, a great bill sponsored by Rep. Onzlee Ware (D-Roanoke), that would have allowed individuals with older marijuana convictions to file petitions for expungement of police and court records. In good news, S.B. 781 died in the House Appropriations Committee, after passing the Senate. S.B. 781 would have drug tested public assistance recipients upon reasonable cause and taken away their benefits for a year if they failed or refused the test unless the individuals attended drug treatment. The General Assembly also passed legislation that banned K2 and other synthetic cannabinoids. 

In 2010, Del. Morgan’s more ambitious decriminalization bill, H.B. 1134, would have reduced the penalty for simple possession to a $500 civil fine. It also would have raised the thresholds of marijuana amounts required to trigger harsher sentences, saving substantial tax dollars. Del. Morgan introduced a second bill last year, H.B. 1136, which would have allowed medical marijuana to be "prescribed" for any condition. However, the bill, like Virginia’s existing medical marijuana law, would’ve been symbolic because federal law prohibits doctors from prescribing any Schedule I drugs, including marijuana. Both bills died in committee.

Write a letter-to-the editor

You can also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to show your support for marijuana decriminalization legislation. Getting newspapers to cover this issue is a very important part of bringing the issue of decriminalization into the spotlight in Virginia. Please take the time not only to send a letter, but also to make your letter as personal as possible.

Are you a patient?

If you are supportive and are a patient with a serious medical condition who might benefit from medical marijuana, a loved one of such a patient, a medical professional, a member of law enforcement or the clergy, or a lawyer or PhD who might be interested in speaking out, please email nmamber@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help. Be sure to include your address and nine-digit ZIP code so we can determine who your legislators are.

Learn more about Virginia's marijuana laws

 Did you know that African Americans in Virginia are almost three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites?

In Virginia, possession of even a single joint is punishable by up to 30 days of incarceration along with a $500 fine. You can learn more about marijuana laws and enforcement in Virginia by  reading this short but detailed report by Jon Gettman, PhD.

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