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Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates address marijuana decriminalization
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Date: August 08, 2017 08:22PM
Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates address marijuana decriminalization
http://wtvr.com/2017/08/07/virginias-gubernatorial-candidates-address-marijuana-decriminalization/
RICHMOND, Va - As the State Crime Commission studies decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana in Virginia, the two men vying for the Governor's mansion are making their stance known.
There is a difference between decriminalization and legalization. Decriminalization would mean Virginians would still violate the law by possession marijuana, but jail time would be eliminated as a punishment.
Eight states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and 22 states have voted to decriminalize simple possession.
Lt. Governor Ralph Northam, the Democrat's nominee, penned a letter to the commission Monday voicing his support for decriminalization. Northam, who has voiced his support in the past, said marijuana enforcement in Virginia costs millions of dollars each year and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
"Virginia spends $67 million on marijuana enforcement – enough to open up another 13,000 pre-K spots for children. African Americans are nearly 3 times as likely to get arrested for simple possession of marijuana and sentencing guidelines that include jail time can all too often begin a dangerous cycle of recidivism," Northam wrote.
The GOP nominee Ed Gillespie sent a statement to CBS 6 about his take on the decriminalization issue.
"While Ed opposes marijuana legalization or decriminalization, he is exploring reforms to make sure that penalties align appropriately to the offense committed," said Dave Abrams, a spokesperson for Gillespie.
On his campaign page, Libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra said the state should stop enforcing possession laws and legalize marijuana to create tax revenue.
The Crime Commission is continuing to study the issue. During the 2017 General Assembly Session, multiple decriminalization bills were tabled in House and Senate subcommittees. Polls by various groups show that a majority of Virginians support lessening the penalty for possession of marijuana.
Crime Commission staffers said they want to hear from Virginians about the pros and cons of decriminalization. You can email helpful information or materials to vsccinfo@vscc.virginia.gov or by mail. The deadline for submissions is August 25. The study's findings will be presented on October 5 at 10 a.m. and is open to the public.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam calls for decriminalization of marijuana
http://wavy.com/2017/08/08/virginia-lt-gov-ralph-northam-calls-for-decriminalization-of-marijuana/
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia’s Lt Gov. Ralph Northam calls for the decriminalization of marijuana in a letter to the Virginia State Crime Commission on Monday.
Northam says Virginia’s current marijuana enforcement and sentencing laws remain “costly and disproportionately harmful to communities of color.”
In the letter, Northam says Virginia spends $67 million on marijuana enforcement, which is enough to open up another 13,000 pre-K spots for kids.
Northam also says in the letter that African Americans are nearly three times as likely to get arrested for simple marijuana possession and sentencing guidelines which include jail time can “all too often begin a dangerous cycle of recidivism.”
You can submit your thoughts on marijuana decriminalization in Virginia to the VSCC by 5 p.m. on August 25 by visiting here.
http://vscc.virginia.gov/study_details.asp
Submit your comment to the VSCC decriminalization study by 8/25
Tell The Crime Commission to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/virginia-tell-the-crime-commission-to-decriminalize-marijuana?source=direct_link&;;;
Members of the Virginia State Crime Commission are seeking written comments from the public regarding the topic of decriminalizing marijuana possession. Under current Virginia law, the possession of one-half ounce of cannabis or less is classified as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The commission is studying the issue at the request of Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, who tasked members to "undertake a study examining a future change to the Code of Virginia regarding criminal penalties related to the possession of small amounts of marijuana." The procedurally required study will be completed October 5 in preparation for the 2018 legislative session.
Members of the public may submit comments until August 25, 2017. The commission's findings will be presented on October 5.
Specifically, the study may examine:
Consequences experienced by any state that has changed the emphasis of its laws regarding possession of small amounts of marijuana from criminal to civil penalties.
Contemporary research related to marijuana and its effects on users, especially any studies indicating a correlation between its usage and that of opioids or illegal stimulants (methamphetamine and cocaine) as a possible “gateway” drug.
The status and strength of current Virginia law related to driving under the influence of marijuana, and the efficacy of existing available technology related to the detection of such use that is admissible in criminal proceedings.
Requirements by the federal government and its agencies related to the Commonwealth’s laws and enforcement of criminal penalties for marijuana possession, including any potential ramifications to the Commonwealth if its laws were in conflict with current federal statutes and regulations related to marijuana enforcement.
If states that have decriminalized possession of marijuana continue to criminalize it on second or third offenses.
The number of Virginians arrested for violating the state's marijuana possession laws rose 76 percent between 2003 and 2014. In 2010, 88.3% of all marijuana offenses were for marijuana possession (18,756 out of 21,231). Minor marijuana possession violators, many of them young, first-time offenders, should not be punished with a lifelong criminal conviction.
In line with changes in other states, the majority of Virginians (78%) support reducing the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana to a fine instead of a misdemeanor conviction.
Please contact your elected officials today and urge them to reconsider legalizing marijuana by using the pre-written letter on the next page.
#TakeAction https://actionnetwork.org/letters/virginia-tell-the-crime-commission-to-decriminalize-marijuana?source=direct_link&;;;
GOT MARIJUANA FREEDOM IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA?!?! #TakeOnlineAction at
http://www.vanorml.org/
https://www.facebook.com/vanorml/
http://wtvr.com/2017/08/07/virginias-gubernatorial-candidates-address-marijuana-decriminalization/
RICHMOND, Va - As the State Crime Commission studies decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana in Virginia, the two men vying for the Governor's mansion are making their stance known.
There is a difference between decriminalization and legalization. Decriminalization would mean Virginians would still violate the law by possession marijuana, but jail time would be eliminated as a punishment.
Eight states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and 22 states have voted to decriminalize simple possession.
Lt. Governor Ralph Northam, the Democrat's nominee, penned a letter to the commission Monday voicing his support for decriminalization. Northam, who has voiced his support in the past, said marijuana enforcement in Virginia costs millions of dollars each year and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
"Virginia spends $67 million on marijuana enforcement – enough to open up another 13,000 pre-K spots for children. African Americans are nearly 3 times as likely to get arrested for simple possession of marijuana and sentencing guidelines that include jail time can all too often begin a dangerous cycle of recidivism," Northam wrote.
The GOP nominee Ed Gillespie sent a statement to CBS 6 about his take on the decriminalization issue.
"While Ed opposes marijuana legalization or decriminalization, he is exploring reforms to make sure that penalties align appropriately to the offense committed," said Dave Abrams, a spokesperson for Gillespie.
On his campaign page, Libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra said the state should stop enforcing possession laws and legalize marijuana to create tax revenue.
The Crime Commission is continuing to study the issue. During the 2017 General Assembly Session, multiple decriminalization bills were tabled in House and Senate subcommittees. Polls by various groups show that a majority of Virginians support lessening the penalty for possession of marijuana.
Crime Commission staffers said they want to hear from Virginians about the pros and cons of decriminalization. You can email helpful information or materials to vsccinfo@vscc.virginia.gov or by mail. The deadline for submissions is August 25. The study's findings will be presented on October 5 at 10 a.m. and is open to the public.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam calls for decriminalization of marijuana
http://wavy.com/2017/08/08/virginia-lt-gov-ralph-northam-calls-for-decriminalization-of-marijuana/
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia’s Lt Gov. Ralph Northam calls for the decriminalization of marijuana in a letter to the Virginia State Crime Commission on Monday.
Northam says Virginia’s current marijuana enforcement and sentencing laws remain “costly and disproportionately harmful to communities of color.”
In the letter, Northam says Virginia spends $67 million on marijuana enforcement, which is enough to open up another 13,000 pre-K spots for kids.
Northam also says in the letter that African Americans are nearly three times as likely to get arrested for simple marijuana possession and sentencing guidelines which include jail time can “all too often begin a dangerous cycle of recidivism.”
You can submit your thoughts on marijuana decriminalization in Virginia to the VSCC by 5 p.m. on August 25 by visiting here.
http://vscc.virginia.gov/study_details.asp
Submit your comment to the VSCC decriminalization study by 8/25
Tell The Crime Commission to Decriminalize Marijuana Possession
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/virginia-tell-the-crime-commission-to-decriminalize-marijuana?source=direct_link&;;;
Members of the Virginia State Crime Commission are seeking written comments from the public regarding the topic of decriminalizing marijuana possession. Under current Virginia law, the possession of one-half ounce of cannabis or less is classified as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The commission is studying the issue at the request of Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, who tasked members to "undertake a study examining a future change to the Code of Virginia regarding criminal penalties related to the possession of small amounts of marijuana." The procedurally required study will be completed October 5 in preparation for the 2018 legislative session.
Members of the public may submit comments until August 25, 2017. The commission's findings will be presented on October 5.
Specifically, the study may examine:
Consequences experienced by any state that has changed the emphasis of its laws regarding possession of small amounts of marijuana from criminal to civil penalties.
Contemporary research related to marijuana and its effects on users, especially any studies indicating a correlation between its usage and that of opioids or illegal stimulants (methamphetamine and cocaine) as a possible “gateway” drug.
The status and strength of current Virginia law related to driving under the influence of marijuana, and the efficacy of existing available technology related to the detection of such use that is admissible in criminal proceedings.
Requirements by the federal government and its agencies related to the Commonwealth’s laws and enforcement of criminal penalties for marijuana possession, including any potential ramifications to the Commonwealth if its laws were in conflict with current federal statutes and regulations related to marijuana enforcement.
If states that have decriminalized possession of marijuana continue to criminalize it on second or third offenses.
The number of Virginians arrested for violating the state's marijuana possession laws rose 76 percent between 2003 and 2014. In 2010, 88.3% of all marijuana offenses were for marijuana possession (18,756 out of 21,231). Minor marijuana possession violators, many of them young, first-time offenders, should not be punished with a lifelong criminal conviction.
In line with changes in other states, the majority of Virginians (78%) support reducing the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana to a fine instead of a misdemeanor conviction.
Please contact your elected officials today and urge them to reconsider legalizing marijuana by using the pre-written letter on the next page.
#TakeAction https://actionnetwork.org/letters/virginia-tell-the-crime-commission-to-decriminalize-marijuana?source=direct_link&;;;
GOT MARIJUANA FREEDOM IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA?!?! #TakeOnlineAction at
http://www.vanorml.org/
https://www.facebook.com/vanorml/