On February 9th, SB 327, legislation to amend state law so that first time, minor marijuana offenders no longer face the loss of their driver’s license, was approved by the full Senate.
Unfortunately members of the House Courts of Justice Committee failed to take action on the bill before the 2016 legislative session came to an end.
Under existing law, marijuana possession offenses may be punishable by the loss of driving privileges, even in cases where the offense did not take place in a motor vehicle. Passage of SB 327 would have ended this practice. Virginia would have become the 35th state to cease the ineffective policy of automatic suspension of driver’s licenses for non-driving marijuana offenses.
Additional information regarding this and other pending marijuana law reform legislation is available by contacting Virginia NORML . Or follow them on Facebook.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
