Should Virginia decriminalize marijuana? State wants your feedback
http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/should-virginia-decriminalize-marijuana-state-wants-your-feedback/article_2f3dab71-4238-5acf-96e3-e5402f2c97f2.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

Virginia officials are accepting comments by email until Aug. 25 about whether simple possession of marijuana should no longer be a crime, and advocates for changing the law are encouraging participation.

The study being conducted this year by the Virginia State Crime Commission came at the request of the legislature. Comments or material relevant to the study can be emailed to the Crime Commission at vsccinfo@vscc.virginia.gov.

The commission will present study findings on Oct. 5.

Jenn Michelle Pedini, the executive director of Virginia NORML, which advocates for reform of marijuana laws, said the group wants the state to hear the concerns of everyday people.

“Seventy-eight percent of Virginians support this type of reform,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, led the effort for a study and has said he’s open to decriminalization.

What’s being discussed is changing the penalty for possession of small amounts from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil fine. Some lawmakers have said they are concerned about the impact of giving someone a criminal record.

“I think that Senator Norment outlined some very salient points to look at. He’s perfectly aware of the data so he wasn’t shooting in the dark,” Pedini said.

Virginia NORML wants people to avoid diatribes in comments to the state.

“What we do want is for you to include a brief personal account of how a marijuana possession charge has collaterally impacted yourself and/or your family,” the group wrote in an email to followers this month. “Did you lose your scholarship? Your job? Your housing? Your children? Have you had difficulty finding meaningful employment simply because you have a misdemeanor possession conviction?”

The state’s Joint Commission on Health Care is studying whether marijuana oil is beneficial for treating certain diseases and whether it has any detrimental effects.

The General Assembly has already allowed people with intractable epilepsy to legally use those oils.

In this year’s governor’s race, Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam, the Democratic nominee, said he supports decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana.

Libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra wants to legalize marijuana and put it “on a level playing field with tobacco and alcohol, thus generating tax revenue,” according to his website.

GOP candidate Ed Gillespie is opposed to decriminalization but wants to study penalties and may be open to marijuana for medical use.

Study findings will be presented at the October 5, 2017 Crime Commission meeting, which is planned to begin at 10:00 a.m. in Richmond, VA. This meeting is open to the public. Location is TBD and will be announced later this fall.

We don't need open carrying stoners.

HHHHMMMMMMMM....could ffx co benefit from legalizing cannabis??

That would only create millions upon millions of income for the state by taxing cannabis. There would be many jobs created which would greatly benefit the states economy. There would be less opioid addiction and deaths. There would be less crime.

Lets not even ask the question if cannabis holds any medicinal value? The informed would say of course it does while the uninformed would say your crazy.
To the uninformed folks out there... are you aware the the our Federal Gov't owns patents with the US Patent & Trademark Office which are related to medicinal benefits of cannabis. Compounds with in cannabis are great at treating & killing cancer as well as treating many other neurologic medical conditions.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6630507.PN.&OS=PN/6630507&RS=PN/6630507

Anything you've been told about the negative effects of legalizing cannabis are not correct. Go and do your research and see how it has greatly improved the communities which have legalized. They see the opposite affects of what they were told.

Now again after reading that patent and knowing how the state could benefit from bringing legalized cannabis to VIRGINIA there is clearly only one answer to that question.

OF COURSE WE SHOULD LEGALIZE CANNABIS.

its illegal but its ok to peddle synthetic pot in prescription meds but the natural version has no benefits. Legalizing is a threat to the BIG PHAMA / CANCER/ TOBACCO / ALCOHOL INDUSTRIES

Legalize weed in fascist prison planet Virginia

Let DC and Maryland hand it out on the street corners.
Let them allow for unlimited public use of weed.
Let Virginia toughen its drug laws and enforce mandatory minimum sentences.

And it will be like moths to the bong flame for all the hippee and thug losers in Virginia. Let them move away from here and go live in a cloud of weed smoke across the river.

Bye Bye

^^^^^^^^
Educated, respectable, and the intelligent people use cannabis as well

If Libs Will Agree to No More GUN GRABS..YES..

Ah...Fuck Um..they Lie their Asses Off So....

HELL NO !

DAJAX Just Trying to get..Some Leverage.. But what about the "Pot Lazy"..More Welfare..??

GOT MARIJUANA FREEDOM IN VIRGINIA? TAKE PROPER ONLINE ACTION AT NORML.ORG



Virginia Lawmakers Request Public Opinion about Marijuana Decriminalization
http://www.nbc29.com/story/35978272/virginia-lawmakers-request-public-opinion-about-marijuana-decriminalization

Bout..WEED..The 2nd..Natch is there ..Staring ya in the face..in 2nd Place.. The Right Of The People to Bare Arms..Shall Not be Infringed.."

Yet..In Many Copies Of The Bill Of Rights..The 2nd page Is Ripped Out..Missing ..Like it Never existed..By Bill Clinton..Chuckie Schumer.,.Nancy the Old and Ugly ..Obama and Hillary..All Lib Heros..SO..

Your Request IS DENIED..! LIBS ..Sorry Pot Smokes..

DAJAX Move To DC or Maryland or California..Get the hell otta Here Libs..Pot Smokes..As you were..