Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is under pressure from both sides of the political corridor as he considers whether to add amendments to legislation that would legalize marijuana for adult recreational use.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is under pressure from both sides of the political corridor as he considers whether to add amendments to legislation that would legalize marijuana for adult recreational use.
The General Assembly passed the legislation, allowing the sale of the drug at retail to be legalized in 2024.
But some Democratic lawmakers have asked Northam to amend the bill and change the legalization date to this year.
“I am encouraging my colleagues to join me to ask the governor to legalize marijuana on July 1, 2021,” said Democratic Senator Louise Lucas wrote on social networks. “Kicking the can down the road has the effect of continuing to police people of color.”
A recent study by the legislature’s research and enforcement agency found that from 2010 to 2019, the average black prison rate for marijuana possession was 3.5 times higher than the white prison rate. The study also found that blacks were sentenced at a rate 3.9 times higher than whites.
The Virginia Senate tried 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.
Supporters agree that legalization should arrive earlier.
“Now is the time for Governor Northam to make some really important amendments,” said Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, who advocates for reform of marijuana legislation. “Virgins have been very clear about this. They support legalization and are ready for it now. “
On the other hand, Northam received a letter from Republican Rep. Of Virginia Bob Good, who told the governor that he should avoid signing the legislation altogether.
“Legalizing recreational marijuana use, even if limited to adults, is likely to expose more children to drug use at young, impressionable ages,” Good wrote. “Marijuana is often the ‘gateway’ to the drug and its legalization will increase experimentation with it and other drugs.”
Groups that were totally opposed to legalization said they were concerned that this could result in an increase in traffic accidents due to drug use.
Although Northam has said he supports legalization, he has yet to say anything about whether to add amendments to the legislation.
Lawmakers would have a chance to consider any potential amendments during the “reconvened session” of the General Assembly next month.
With the passing of the legislation, Virginia became the first state in the South to vote for the legalization of marijuana, joining 15 other states and the District of Columbia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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