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Virginia on Thursday became the first southern state to legalize marijuana, allowing adults 21 and older to keep up to an ounce of the drug for personal enjoyment.
WASHINGTON (CN) – Independence Day has gotten a little freer in the Old Dominion after a new law came into effect allowing Virginia adults aged 21 and over to legally own up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to four plants for personal use.
Virginia became the first southern state to legalize marijuana in April, a month after state governor Ralph Northam asked the state legislature to expedite such a decision.
The new law is part of a larger criminal justice reform effort by Northam and his fellow Democrats. During the legislative process, Northam pointed to a report that despite state possession decriminalization last summer, black Virginians still faced three times as many drug-related charges. Those who advocate for legalization often insist that it corrects such imbalances in criminal justice, eliminates black market drug sales, and generates additional tax revenue for states.
Congressman Don Beyer, a Democrat representing parts of Virginia firmly inside and just outside the Capital Beltway, expressed his joy over the move Thursday.
“Today, after decades of excessive incarceration that disproportionately targeted communities of color, marijuana is legalized in the Commonwealth of Virginia,†Beyer said. tweeted. “I have been calling for this step for years and will continue to support and vote for legalization at the federal level.”
For the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, however, there is still work to be done on this front.
“As we prepare for the legalization of marijuana on July 1, we cannot forget the thousands of people who are still behind bars for marijuana convictions,†the organization said. tweeted Tuesday. “Their release, as soon as possible, must be a priority. Until that happens, there can be no justice.
Among lawmakers less enthusiastic about the law, Republican state delegate Chris Head in April called the legalization effort a “train wreck” and said lawmakers needed more time to draft the legislation .
“I understand that taking the time to do this right could even lead to accusations of racism,” Head remarked in a virtual speech in the House this month. “But we have to do it right. And getting it right takes time.
As of Thursday, having too many plants for personal use could result in civil costs of $ 250, while owning more than an ounce could result in civil costs of $ 25. Public consumption will still be prohibited, and driving with grass in the car can trigger open container laws. Personal plants must be kept out of public view, and each must have a label with the user’s name and identification number, by law. It also clarifies that adults sharing less than 1 ounce of marijuana will not be subject to civil or criminal penalties.
Conversely, anyone carrying more than a pound of marijuana could face felony charges – up to a decade in prison and up to $ 250,000 in fines.
Virginia is now one of 19 states that are greenlighting adult marijuana legalization.
Due to the slow bureaucracy, it will be a few more years before legal marijuana retailing can take place in the state. After a new state agency is set up to oversee the sale of marijuana, sales can take effect on January 1, 2024.
The state will levy a 21% tax on all products sold in stores and localities can add an additional 3% tax if they wish. Edibles will be maximized at 5 milligrams per serving with no more than 50 milligrams per package. Schools collect 40% of the funds, with the remainder going between equity funds and other state needs.
Much of the regulation of business will fall under the power of the Cannabis Control Authority. This body will receive feedback from a citizen-led committee, the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board, which will help ensure fairness in the future market.
A seat on the board of directors, as well as some of the sales and production licenses, will be reserved for those with a history of marijuana-related offenses on their file. A state loan program, the Virginia Cannabis Equity Business Loan Fund, will also provide lending options to those affected by the marijuana ban amid the inability of traditional banks to lend money to the industry that is still banned by the federal government.
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