Washington, D.C. has recently been making moves towards the legalization of marijuana. Although the bill is expected to meet resistance on the capital steps, many Virginians have wondered what impact the legalization of pot so close to home could have.
Washington, D.C. has recently been making moves towards the legalization of marijuana. Although the bill is expected to meet resistance on the capital steps, many Virginians have wondered what impact the legalization of pot so close to home could have. Many are looking at this an opportunity to further the cause of marijuana legalization in Virginia.
One sign of this interest is the introduction of Virginia Senate Bill 686, which aims to reduce the penalties of many marijuana-associated crimes.
To help inform people of everything the bill covers and gain support for the bill, the local Richmond chapter of the National Organization of the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) will be holding a meet and greet event at Cary Street Cafe.
Ed McCann, policy director for the Virginia state chapter of NORML, offered some thoughts on what D.C.’s move towards legalization could mean for Virginia.
The most immediate and unintended impact of legalization in D.C. could be a spike in arrests.
“Unless Virginia changes its laws, it’s going to result in a lot more arrests, especially in northern Virginia,” McCann said. “We’ve been bringing this issue up with our legislators, that if a neighboring district is legal and we’re not, and there are a lot of commuters and tourists who go back and forth between Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. and that area, that unless they do something, they’re likely going to face more arrests and costs.”
Unfortunately, McCann is somewhat skeptical such measures will be passed before D.C.’s marijuana laws take effect. “Politically, I have yet to see any legislators start to take it seriously. I think they won’t really understand the impact until it happens and sales are regulated and taxed in D.C.,” McCann said.
Even though Virginia might not be able to adjust its own marijuana laws in time, there is a bright side to D.C.’s speedy time frame. “External pressures outside of our state may have an influence in the state, so if other jurisdictions are moving quickly, I think the pace will pick up,” McCann said.
Although SB 686 deals only with decriminalization, McCann looks at it as an essential stepping stone towards legalization. “No state has gone from criminal penalties to outright legalization,” McCann said.
Decriminalization would have immediate and significant impacts on marijuana legislation in Virginia. “It would eliminate some costs for the police and the courts, and it would allow people not to get criminal records for something people in other states are free to do,” McCann said.
People interested in helping pass SB 686 are encouraged to not only attend Richmond NORML’s meet and greet, but to also reach out to their state representative.
“For the readers, if they’re supportive of the bill, it is absolutely crucial that they contact their senator, and contact the senator many times,” McCann said. “One letter or one email is not enough.”
Richmond NORML will be holding their meet and greet at the Cary Street Cafe on Sunday, December 14th at 12pm. You can learn more about the marijuana legalization movement in Virginia by visiting Virginia NORML’s Facebook page.
