Richmond, (VA) – On Monday, February 28th, Virginia’s House of Delegates finally voted to not move forward on a marijuana bill this year and cannabis equity advocates are encouraged that more time will be spent for a more equitable transition.
The bill SB391 would have changed the penalty for possessing between one ounce and one pound from a civil penalty to a misdemeanor for anything between four ounces and one pound of marijuana. Legislating new crimes associated with the possession of marijuana is working backwards. Not only would the proposal have continued to empower racist policing in Virginia but also legislate a limited access market to benefit oligopolies and exclude social equity operators and small entrepreneurs. With Black Virginia residents ages 18-24 as the prime targets of these new crimes, we hope to not see them reappear with support from legislators who say they are committed to equity.
“Our youth’s futures can be severely impacted by these marijuana-related crimes – from losing access to federal financial aid, public housing, employment opportunities, and so much more. We must not legislate new crimes with marijuana possession or other felonies that come with prison time.” Kalia Harris- Executive Director of Virginia Student Power Network (VSPN)
“Today we witnessed Virginia’s failed attempt to re-activate the Drug War. The legal creation of cannabis oligopolies with a limited and exclusive market would have increased law enforcement budgets and expanded harm in our neighborhoods.” Chelsea Higgs Wise, Executive Director of Marijuana Justice
The House Courts of Justice Subcommittee heard and passed SB745 which proposes a pathway for resentencing people still incarcerated and under supervision due to marijuana offenses. It is imperative that Virginia legislators pass the bill as is with no additional barriers to meaningful release. CannaJustice Coalition member and RISE for Youth Executive Director says:
“Ending the incarceration of Virginia residents of color who are impacted by the War on Drugs cannot happen quickly enough. The time is now! Black and brown Virginians have waited long enough for equity. Just as the House defeated the bill that would have handed cannabis sales over to big business, leaving equity market participants out of Virginia’s new cannabis industry, we must end the incarceration of Virginians for cannabis convictions that would now be legal acts under Virginia law.”
The CannaJustice Coalition is celebrating the defeat of HB79 that would repeal the ban of pretextual stops that was passed in 2020. Today CannaJustice coalition member spoke in opposition to the attempts to repeal landmark pretext prohibitions. Brad Haywood, executive director of Justice Forward said,
“The real impact of pretextual policing is that Black people are pulled over nearly twice as often as white people, and that’s what the bill was meant to address, and it’s doing a good job of that.”
We are encouraged with today’s movement on marijuana legalization that allows the legislators to become more familiar with the risks of creating limited markets and new crimes. Additionally, we are overjoyed to see resentencing advance.
Legalization Advocates will continue to urge for:
1. No new crimes, no youth criminalization nor pre-textual policing
2. Automatically re-sentencing of marijuana offenses, automatic hearing for sentence enhancements due to marijuana offenses
3. Day One Equity that does not include exclusive early access to some.
Cannabis equity advocates from Virginia and across the country have signed onto a LETTER to Virginia legislators and the administration calling for a halt to exclusive early access for corporate operators and a focus on meaningful resentencing and reuniting families.
The Coalition and advocates continue to use the repeal, repair and reparations model to center those most impacted by the War on Drugs.
Resources:
– WATCH: Day One Equity Press Conference (2/14/22)
– Racial Disparities Persist Even After Decriminalization by Ben Paviour, VPM
– “Nixon Adviser Admits War on Drugs Was Designed to Criminalize Black People” by Equal Justice Initiative
– Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Equity Report
– Supernova Women Social Equity Impact Materials
– Impact Analysis
– Full Report
– Drug War and Mass Deportation Paper by Drug Policy Alliance
– VIDEO Marijuana Justice Marijuana Monthly with Amber LittleJohn
– Advocates warn of weed ‘oligopoly’ as Virginia looks to speed up sales- Ben Pavior, VPM – Bigger is Not Better: Preventing Monopolies in the National Cannabis Market by Shaleen Tile, Parabola Center
– Fair and Square: How to Effectively Incorporate Social Equity Into Cannabis Laws and Regulations by Shaleen Title, Parabola Center
– COLUMN: We can’t go back to ‘broken taillight’ policing by Brad Haywood Executive Director of Justice Forward Virginia
– Protecting the Prohibition of Pretextual Policing by Justice Forward Virginia
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