Virginia Senate Approves Two Marijuana Bills As Lawmakers Pursue Broader Legalization

Two modest marijuana reform bills cleared the Virginia Senate on Friday, with several others advancing during a special session as lawmakers consider the issue of broader cannabis legalization. Legislation that would make possession of cannabis in a motor vehicle a secondary offense instead of a primary one, and also prevent law enforcement from searching or seizing property based on the odor of marijuana alone, passed the chamber in a 21-15 vote. GREAT NEWS!@JusticeFwdVa. This bill also prevents cops from using "I smell marijuana" as a pretext to search your car after they stop you for "offenses" like tinted windows. To end police violence, we must minimize the interactions between Black & Brown people and police. https://t.co/pltWwNmqVW — ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) August 28, 2020 Making possession a secondary offense means that a summons couldn’t be issued unless the person is charged with a separate, second violation. Once police pull you over, they can use the smell of marijuana as a pretext to search your car. Sadly, Black Virginians know this problem all too well. We support @SenLouiseLucas' SB 5029 to address this problem. Better yet, let's make simple possession legal. https://t.co/N1de5N0cUu — ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) August 24, 2020 Virginia lawmakers approved a bill to decriminalize simple marijuana possession earlier this year, and it went into effect on July 1. It makes possession of up to one ounce a civil penalty punishable by a $25 fine with no threat of jail time. But while advocates view that development as a…

Excerpt only …
READ MORE BELOW
Source : MJ moment
Link to original : Virginia Senate Approves Two Marijuana Bills As Lawmakers Pursue Broader Legalization
reposted by Cannabis News World