Virginia lawmakers finalized approval on Saturday for a bill that would legalize adult recreational marijuana, but only in 2024, when retail sales of the drug would also begin.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia lawmakers on Saturday gave final approval to a bill that would legalize adult recreational marijuana, but only in 2024, when retail sales of the drug would also begin.
With a compromise bill clearing 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 Gov. Ralph Northam, who supports legalization.
The bill was a top priority for the Democrats, who proposed legalization as a necessary step to end the diverse treatment of coloreds under current marijuana laws. But over the past few days, talks between Democrats in the House and the Senate have become tense, and a compromise version of the massive bill only appeared in public late Saturday afternoon.
“It has been a lot of work to get here, but I would say we are on the way to a fair law that allows responsible adults to use cannabis,” said Senator Adam Ebbin, the main sponsor of the Senate bill.
Several Democrats have said they hope Northam will return the legislation to them with amendments, including speeding up the date for legalization.
“If we had already made the decision to revoke the simple possession, we could do so today and end the excessive fines for communities of color,” Senator Jennifer McClellan said.
“Let us be absolutely clear: this bill is not legalization, and there are many steps between here and legalization,” she said.
Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said the governor “looks forward to continuing to improve this legislation.”
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but this bill will help reinvest in our communities and reduce the inequalities in our criminal justice system,” she said.
Under the legislation, possession of up to 28.3 grams of marijuana will become legal from January 1, 2024, at the same time sales will begin and regulations will come into force to control the marijuana market in Virginia.
Under a provision the Senate Democrats have called for, the legislation will include a re-enactment clause that will require a second vote of the General Assembly next year, but only on the regulatory framework and criminal penalties for various offenses, including minor use and public consumption of marijuana. A second vote is not required on legalization.
The Senate this year sought to legalize simple possession to end immediate punishment 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.
Lawmakers have decriminalized marijuana, making it a civil fine that can be easily punished with a fine of up to $ 25.
Charniele Herring, leader of the House majority, said that although the legislation was not perfect, it was a “bill on justice”.
‘It’s moving us in a … direction to tackle the institutional barriers, and too much policing, too many arrests, convictions of African Americans who do not use marijuana higher than our white counterparts, but we seem to blame of criminal convictions, ”Herring said.
A recent study by the legislature’s research and watchdog agency found that the average arrest rate of black individuals for marijuana possession from 2010-2019 was 3.5 times higher than the arrest rate for white individuals. The study also found that black people were convicted 3.9 times higher than white people.
The bill requires that 30% of the tax revenue for marijuana – after program costs – be devoted to a reinvestment fund of Cannabis Equity. The money would be used to help communities that were generally overdrawn due to marijuana crimes, with funds allocated for scholarships, workers’ development and job placement services, and low or no interest loans for qualified cannabis businesses.
Virgos who have a marijuana conviction, family members with a conviction or live in an area of economic distress may qualify as social equity applicants who will be given preference for licenses to enter the marijuana market as growers, wholesalers , processors and retailers.
The bulk of the tax revenue from marijuana sales is pre-K financing for at-risk children.
The bill has drawn sharp criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union in Virginia and other groups for advocating for racial justice.
“Today, the Virginia General Assembly has failed to legalize marijuana for racial justice. “Legislators have delivered lip service to the communities that have suffered decades of damage through the racist war on drugs, with legislation that seeks to reform justice and delay justice,” the ACLU said in a tweet.
Groups that are completely opposed to legalization said they were concerned it could lead to an increase in drug-related driving accidents and the use of marijuana among youth.
Republican lawmakers spoke out against the measure Saturday night, saying such a critical case deserves a less hasty approach.
“I would say that no more than two or three members of this body have an idea about the comprehensiveness of what this bill does,” said Tommy Norment, Senate Minority Leader.
Copyright © 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.