Lawmakers in Virginia dealing with criminal justice fallout of marijuana prohibition
Members of the Virginia House and Senate will likely enter closed-door negotiations to finalize a comprehensive plan to regulate marijuana sales.
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Members of the Virginia House and Senate will likely enter closed-door negotiations to finalize a comprehensive plan to regulate marijuana sales.
Who will get first dibs on getting a valuable license to sell marijuana? According to a bill the Senate sent to the house, it's people who have been convicted of misdemeanor marijuana crimes. Or people who live in areas that have been disproportionately policed. Or people who graduated from HBCUs.
VPM News’ Legal and Criminal Justice Reporter Whittney Evans spoke to Newscast Editor Sara McCloskey about how lawmakers are grappling with the criminal justice aspects of marijuana legalization.
But approval remains uncertain in House, where the GOP has refused to docket cannabis bills
Recreational marijuana was legalized last year, when the state government was controlled by Democrats, but now Republicans are in charge and there's little agreement on how to regulate it. Some fear illegal sellers are poised to take advantage.