Virginia lawmakers gave final approval on Saturday to a bill that would legalize marijuana for recreational use by adults, but not until 2024, when retail sales of the drug would also begin.
RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) – Virginia lawmakers gave final approval on Saturday to a bill that will legalize marijuana for adult recreational use, but not until 2024, when retail sales of the drug would also begin.
With a compromise bill being passed in the House and Senate, Virginia becomes the first southern state to vote to legalize marijuana, joining 15 other states and the District of Columbia. The legislation now goes to Democratic Governor Ralph Northam, who supports legalization.
The bill was a top priority for Democrats, who saw legalization as a necessary step to end unequal treatment of people of color under current marijuana laws. But negotiations between Democrats in the House and Senate have been tense in recent days, and a compromise version of the huge bill did not appear publicly until late Saturday afternoon.
“It has been a lot of work to get here, but I would say that we are on the way to a fair law that allows responsible adults to use cannabis,” said Sen. Adam Ebbin, the Senate bill’s main advocate.
Several Democrats said they expected Northam to send the legislation back to them with amendments, including speeding up the legalization date.
“If we had already made the decision that simple postage should be revoked, we could have done it today and put an end to the disproportionate fines on communities of color,” said Senator Jennifer McClellan.
“Let’s be absolutely clear – this bill is not legalization and there are many steps between here and legalization,” she said.
Northam’s spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky, said the governor “hopes to continue to improve this legislation”.
“There is still a lot of work to do, but this bill will help reinvest in our communities and reduce inequalities in our criminal justice system,” she said.
According to the law, possession of up to an ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana will become legal as of January 1, 2024, at the same time that sales will begin and regulations will take effect to control the marijuana market in Virginia.
According to a provision that Senate Democrats insisted on, the legislation will include a reconstitution clause that will require a second General Assembly vote next year, but only on the regulatory framework and criminal penalties for various crimes, including use by minors and public consumption of marijuana. A second vote will not be required for legalization.
The Senate had sought to legalize simple possession this year to immediately end punishments for people with small amounts of marijuana, but House Democrats argued that legalization without a legal marijuana market could promote the growth of the black market.
Last year, lawmakers decriminalized marijuana, making simple possession a civil penalty that can be punished with a maximum $ 25 fine.
The majority leader in the House, Charniele Herring, said that while the legislation was not perfect, it was a “bill”.
“It moves us in a … direction to attack and address these institutional barriers, excessive policing, excessive arrests, excessive condemnations of African Americans who do not use marijuana at a higher rate than our white counterparts, but it seems that to receive the weight of criminal convictions, ”said Herring.
A recent study by the legislature’s research and enforcement agency found that from 2010-2019, the average prison rate of black individuals for marijuana possession was 3.5 times higher than the rate of white prisoners. The study also found that blacks were sentenced at a rate 3.9 times higher than whites.
The bill calls for 30% of marijuana tax revenue to be dedicated – after the program costs – to a Cannabis Stock Reinvestment Fund. The money would be used to help communities that have historically been over-policed for marijuana crimes, with funds going to scholarships, workforce development and job placement services, and low-interest or interest-free loans to insurance companies. qualified cannabis.
Virgos who have a marijuana conviction, have family members with a conviction or live in an area that is economically impaired could qualify as candidates for social equality who would prefer licenses to enter the marijuana market as growers, wholesalers, processors and dealers .
Most of the tax revenue from marijuana sales would go to pre-K financing for children at risk.
The project drew harsh criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and other racial justice advocacy groups.
“Today, the Virginia General Assembly failed to legalize marijuana for racial justice. Lawmakers have spoken out to communities that have suffered decades of damage from the racist drug war with legislation that falls short of equitable reform and delays justice, ”the ACLU said in a tweet.
Groups that were entirely opposed to legalization said they were concerned that this could result in an increase in traffic accidents caused by drugs and in the use of marijuana among young people.
Republican lawmakers spoke out against the measure on Saturday night, saying that such a critical issue deserved a less hasty approach.
“I would say that there are no more than two or three members of this body who have an idea of the scope of what this bill does,” said Senate minority leader Tommy Norment.
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