Lawmakers in Virginia are looking to decriminalize marijuana! Republican Delegate Harvey B. Morgan, a pharmacist, has 31 years in the House and is the second-most senior delegate. He says he thinks criminalizing pot has done nothing to curb its use and is introducing House Bill 1134 that would change simple possession from possible jail time to a civil fine of $500. The bill also looks to increase the amount of weed needed to be considered for the charge of possession with the intent to distribute and remove the mandatory two and five-year sentences for distribution.
But he hasn’t stopped there. Morgan (R-98th D) is also submitting House Bill 1136 which would expand Virginia’s medical marijuana laws to allow marijuana to be prescribed for more diseases. Currently it’s allowed for cancer and glaucoma. Morgan said because the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved medical marijuana, it’s tough to actually obtain it. The law would ensure patients and doctors couldn’t be prosecuted for the medicating with cannabis.
“Doctors, who are accustomed to weighing the risks and benefits of drugs, should be able to prescribe marijuana in instances in which research has shown it could be medically effective,” said Morgan in a recent press conference.
He also mention that a possession conviction can and has destroyed many lives, even convictions that are decades old. And, he listed jobs from which someone with a drug record is permanently barred in Virginia — teacher, pawnbroker, taxi driver, etc. And, he said the state could save millions during the budget crisis by relieving the jails of those incarcerated for marijuana possession. Making marijuana possession a noncriminal offense, he said, could save the state $75 million a year.
Fantastic. If only all our legislators could be as logical and sane. It just makes sense, and $75 million a year is a lot of money that is better spent elsewhere.
It is refreshing to realize that reason and compassion has entered the cannabis debate. Long time coming. I am 60 years old and I have used cannabis for over forty years, my life could not be better. I suspect that there are many people who simply don’t care if you decriminalize it, regulate it, zone it, standardize it, tax it, medicinalize it… we will still use cannabis and we will be making our purchase choice using the path of least resistence. It is laugh to witness the entrenched powers scrambling to keep up with demand for changes in the cannabis laws. Pile a bunch of needless regulations on any decriminalization law and most of us will still be criminals, such is life. Make it easier and cheaper to buy from legal sources rather than the street dealer or else most people will simply grow their own or continue buying from the local drug dealer. Common sense.
UNFORTUNATELY it was shot down immediately because Virginia is THE most conservative state EVER. However, I do enjoy the fact that the state is coming to its senses little by little
My foster son, native to California, and used to ‘Law-enforcement’ “turning-the-other-cheek’ to minor (less than 1 oz) of possesion, has been charged in Va. as a felon. (oops he was smoking in his ‘dorm’ room—-ON SCHOOL GROUNDS–A FELONY..PER, VA. lAW.
My advise to him was to spred the word (Va.U’s)intolerance and find other, more tolerant institutions of learning.
Perhaps then multiple $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, will give them second thoughts, as a mass emmigation leaves their school without funds. (“) BANKRUPT!!
I have advised my foster-son to return to Calif. The Attorney-Grneral, here has stated he will not honor extradition laws based om ‘archaic’ drug laws.
sign our petition please yall decriminalize marijuana why are we letting potential criminals control a substance that we say is potentiallly harmful