Virginia to Review Cannabis Laws in Wake of Legalization

Virginia has long been known for its strict and unwavering cannabis policies, even in light of recent legalization across the county. Finally, following the most recent election, which gained more victories for cannabis than ever before, a Virginia Senator is calling for major cannabis reform.

According to the Daily Press, Senator Thomas K. Norment, Jr, Republican Majority Leader in the state, thinks prison terms for cannabis are draconian, and wants a state criminal justice agency to review current state cannabis laws.

Senator Thomas would like the Virginia State Crime Commission to look at several key areas where he is seeing issues. For starters, he would like them to consider that most states now only punish cannabis crimes as small offenses with fines and fees, rather than major felonies that equal jail time. He also wants the idea of cannabis being a “gateway drug” to be reexamined, and would like a review of Virginia laws about driving while under the influence of cannabis and how state laws measure up to federal regulations.

“I think it’s absolutely crazy that we continue to lock people up for possession of a modest amount of marijuana,” Norment told the Norfolk City Council on November 1, according to The Virginian-Pilot. “We are tough on crime. It’s a question of what crimes we want to be tough on.”

While Virginia may still be miles away from truly revolutionizing the way they deal with cannabis, even this little gesture is a step in the right direction for a state that is known for denying patients access to medical CBD and for locking up cannabis offenders with lengthy prison sentences. As the tide of the country slowly shifts away from prohibition, states like Virginia have no choice but to eventually follow suite.