Marijuana decriminalization bills fail in Virginia
Written By Emily Gray Brosious Posted: 01/26/2016, 12:16pm
(Photo credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Marijuana decriminalization bills fail in Virginia House subcommittee
Two bills designed to relax criminal penalties for marijuana possession in Virginia failed to pass a House Delegates subcommittee Monday, according to a Richmond Times Dispatch report.
Current penalties for marijuana possession in Virginia are among the harshest in the country. Getting caught with even a small amount of marijuana can lead to a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.
Democratic state lawmakers Mark H. Levine and Stephen E. Heretick filed separate bills aimed at reducing marijuana possession penalties from a criminal offense to a civil violation.
“When you have half of the population violating a law, it’s a law that’s not working,” Levine told the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Both bills failed to advance on Monday.
Although marijuana arrest rates have been dropping across much of the country, pot arrests in Virginia have actually been sharply rising.
According to research by Drug Policy Alliance, marijuana arrests nationwide dropped 6.5 percent between 2003 and 2014. During that same time, marijuana possession arrests in Virginia increased 76 percent. The marijuana arrest rate for black individuals in Virginia increased 106 percent.
Virginia’s marijuana situation contrasts drastically with that in Washington D.C., which has seen marijuana arrests drop by more than 90 percent since legalizing recreational cannabis in 2014.
View gallery: 19 states where marijuana has been decriminalized
1. Alaska
Alaska has legalized recreational marijuana. Possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana for personal use carries no penalty unless you are within 500 feet of a school or recreational center, which is a felony offense. (Photo credit: @Interior/Twitter)
1. Alaska
Alaska has legalized recreational marijuana. Possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana for personal use carries no penalty unless you are within 500 feet of a school or recreational center, which is a felony offense. (Photo credit: @Interior/Twitter)
2. California
In California, possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana for personal use is an infraction that carries no jail time and no fines if you are at least 18 years old. If you are younger than 18 or you are on school grounds at any age and caught with 28.5 ounces or less, you can be charged with a misdemeanor offense that carries up to 10 days behind bars and $250 in fines. (Photo credit: @PrairieHedge/Twitter)
3. Colorado
Colorado has legalized recreational marijuana. Possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana for personal use carries no penalty. Possession of 1-2 ounces of marijuana for personal use carries a petty offense penalty with no jail time and up to $100 in fines. (Photo credit: @cannabist/Twitter)
4. Connecticut
In Connecticut, marijuana possession of up to 1/2 ounce for personal use is a civil penalty that carries no jail time and up to $150 in fines. (Photo credit: @irabienpluton4/Twitter)
5. Delaware
Personal marijuana possession of up to 1 ounce is a civil offense with no incarceration time and up to $100 in fines. | Photo credit: @420Meta/Twitter
6. Vermont
In Vermont, personal possession of 1 ounce or less is a civil violation with up to $500 in fines. (Photo credit: @JoannVitali/Twitter)
7. Maine
In Maine, personal possession of 2.5 ounces or less is a civil violation that carries no jail time and fines totaling $1000. (Photo credit: @Hawaii_Hemp/Twitter)
8. Maryland
In Maryland, personal possession of less than 10 grams is a civil offense with no jail time and up to $100 in fines. (Photo credit: @MarylandProbz/Twitter)
9. Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, personal possession of 1 ounce or less is a civil offense with no jail time and up to $100 in fines.
(Photo credit: @escandonowen/Twitter)
10. Minnesota
In Minnesota, personal possession of 42.5 grams or less is a misdemeanor offense that carries no jail time and up to $200 in fines. (Photo credit: @benlubeckTwitter)
11. New York
In New York, personal possession of 25 grams or less on the first and second offenses carries no criminal penalty and up to $200 in fines. (Photo credit: @Cr7Prince4ever/Twitter)
12. Ohio
In Ohio, personal possession of up to 100 grams is a misdemeanor that carries no incarceration time and up to $150 in fines. (Photo credit: @jannonjuice/Twitter)
13. Mississippi
In Mississippi, personal possession of 30 grams or less on first offense carries no penalty. Second and third offenses carry up to 6 months in jail and $500 in fines. (Photo credit: @420Meta/Twitter)
14. Missouri
Missouri's law takes effect Jan. 1. 2017. Under the new law, personal possession of up to 1 ounce on first offense will carry no incarceration time. (Photo credit: @Hawaii_Hemp/Twitter)
15. Nebraska
In Nebraska, personal possession of 1 ounce or less is an infraction that carries no jail time and up to $300 in fines on first offense. (Photo credit: @cbshome/Twitter)
16. Nevada
In Nevada, personal possession of 1 ounce or less is a misdemeanor that carries no incarceration time and up to $600 in fines. (Photo credit: @EarthPix/Twitter)
17. North Carolina
In North Carolina, personal possession of half an ounce or less is a misdemeanor that carries no jail time and up to $200 in fines. (Photo credit: @voxdotcom/Twitter)
18. Oregon
Oregon has legalized marijuana for adult use. Personal possession of up to 1 ounce carries no penalty. Possession of 1-2 ounces is a violation that carries up to $650 in fines. (Photo credit: @AmericanScenery/Twitter)
19. Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, personal possession of up to 1 ounce is a civil violation that carries up to $150 in fines. (Photo credit: @BrownAlumAssoc/Twitter)
20. Washington D.C.
D.C. has legalized recreational marijuana use. Personal marijuana possession of 2 ounces or less carries no penalty. (Photo credit: @jonbilous/Twitter)Start
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State marijuana possession penalties may vary in municipalities that pass their own marijuana laws.
Gallery state decriminalization information via NORML
