Northam backs marijuana decriminalization, raising felony larceny threshold to $1,000 (Virginia)

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | January 03, 2020 | Mel Leonor

[Perseverando]

Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday that he would throw his weight behind the decriminalization of marijuana in Virginia this year but said he wants to study full legalization before going further.

Northam announced legislation Friday that would make possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil offense carrying a $50 penalty, instead of a criminal misdemeanor.

The proposal is part of a broader “criminal justice reform agenda” that includes changes to the state’s parole system, a higher threshold for theft to be considered a felony, and an increase to the age at which a young offender can be tried as an adult from 14 to 16.

Seeking to further a key 2019 win by his administration, Northam proposes to permanently eliminate the automatic suspension of driver’s licenses for unpaid fines, fees and court costs. Lawmakers had backed the reinstatement of licenses for 627,000 Virginians last year; Northam is proposing to end the practice permanently.

“All Virginians deserve access to a fair and equitable criminal justice system,” Northam said Friday during an event at OAR Richmond, a nonprofit that helps rehabilitate people formerly incarcerated. “This is a bold step towards a more just and inclusive commonwealth.”

Easing the legal consequences for marijuana possession has for years been a goal of Democrats, who have been blocked by some Republicans in a formerly GOP-controlled legislature.

Northam and other Democrats have argued that enforcement is expensive as possession of the drug becomes widespread. They also say it disproportionately jails African Americans.

The measure might see some GOP support. Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, supports decriminalization and has expressed support for the use of medical cannabis.

Northam is proposing to do away with criminal

[palmer]

Pretty simple: anarcho-tyranny. The criminals will roam free but law abiding citizens will be harassed and jailed for technical violations of magazine size.

[dljordan]

Has there ever been a governor hung in the U.S.?

[Disambiguator]

Defense for no one - larceny for free.

I play the guitar on the MTV.

[Drew68]

I guess the voters of Virginia and the U.S. Government have no say in this matter either.

We didn't have any say in the criminalization of marijuana. Why should we have any say in the decriminalization of it?

All kidding aside, I'm pretty certain by this point that decriminalization would pass easily by referendum in Virginia, and probably every other state for that matter.

The glory days of the drug warriors are behind us.

[Drew68]

The old Klansman knows that he must move far to the left if his base is to forgive him for this little yearbook incident:

The only people who care about about any blackface incidents are white liberals in the media who will make the executive decision if they will make a story of it or not.