Virginia just legalized marijuana

[DonViejo]

It’s now the first state in the South to legalize cannabis.

By German [e-mail]@vox.com Apr 8, 2021, 8:50am EDT

Virginia lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a marijuana legalization law, making the state the first in the South to legalize cannabis.

Under the law, adults 21 and older will be able to use and grow marijuana, starting in July. The state will also launch a legal, regulated market, with an expected launch in 2024. And it lets people with past marijuana convictions request lower penalties or for their records to be sealed.

Revenue from a new excise tax on marijuana will go toward education programs, equity initiatives, addiction treatment, and public health services.

The legislation came after a contentious, but relatively quick, legislative process. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) publicly backed marijuana legalization in November. After some back-and-forth, the Virginia House and Senate passed bills legalizing pot in February. Northam responded approvingly, but with amendments to the legislation. The legislature then approved the amendments, allowing the legislation to take effect with no further action from Northam.

more
https://www.vox.com/2021/4/8/22307918/virginia-marijuana-legalization-law-bill-ralph-northam

[Voltaire2]

1. the east coast is joining with the west coast and the great lakes states

as a region of relatively enlightened government. Meanwhile jesusland is sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss of fascist theocracy.

Sort of a good news/bad news situation.

[getagrip_already]

2. We've had that since 2017.. the world has not ended

And we had decriminalization for years before that.

Our youth have not gone loco (well, no more than they usually do) or dived off the deep end into harder drugs (again, at any rate over what existed before), and unfortunately, woman have not been wantonly throwing themselves at every man in sight .

If anything, cannabis use among minors has dropped. Certainly their appearances in court have dropped, even though it is still illegal to be a minor in possession of either alcohol or cannabis.

Congrats VA. Now expect the a&*hats to come out. We have seen cases where employees of companies who visit states where cannabis is legal suddenly get called for a drug test.

Cops will neither like it nor abide by it, and will find ways to make it illegal (over the limit, within reach in a vehicle, violation of open container law when you carry it on your person, etc).

It will gradually get better as everyone calms down. Good luck.

[Yorkie Mom]

3. Yeah! K&R

[sarcasmo]

4. Right on. Seeing States force change, is great news.

[Indykatie]

5. Legalizing Weed is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Improve the Criminal Justice System

Millions, mostly Black men have had their lives ruined because of our treatment of marijuana possession as a felony offense. Hopefully some For Profit jails and prisons will go out of business.