House and Senate lawmakers have set aside legislation that sought to eliminates criminal penalties for marijuana possession offenses, replacing them with civil fine-only penalties — no arrest and no criminal record.
On February 3rd, Senate Bill 104, was passed by indefinitely by the Courts of Justice Committee in an 11-4 vote. The committee failed to take any additional action before the end of the 2016 legislative session.
On January 25th, House decriminalization legislation, HB 997, was killed in Committee by a voice vote. Separate House legislation, HB 1074, was also killed in Committee by a voice vote, as was separate House legislation seeking to expunge past marijuana convictions.
It is apparent by these actions that Virginia lawmakers need to hear from constituents that marijuana law reform ought to be a legislative priority.
The number of Virginians arrested for violating the state’s marijuana possession laws increased 76 percent between the years 2003 and 2014, at a time when arrests for similar violations were falling nationwide.
The number of African Americans arrested for possessing marijuana climbed from 4,991 in 2003 to 10,293 in 2014 – an increase of 106 percent. In 2013, African Americans accounted for nearly half (47 percent) of possession arrests, but comprised only 20 percent of the state population.
Presently, Virginia police make over 22,000 annual marijuana possession arrests — one of the highest totals of any state in the nation.
Minor marijuana possession offenders, many of them young people, should not be saddled with a criminal record and the lifelong penalties and stigma associated with it. Please urge lawmakers to reconsider their actions by contacting them with the pre-written letter below.
To find out more information about this legislation you can contact Virginia NORML or visit their Facebook page.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
