Legalize Cannabis in Virginia

Hold your breath (after a hit, of course):



The U.S. House of Representatives passed the MORE Act, a bill that would end the federal prohibition on cannabis by removing it from the list of banned controlled substances. This is the second time the bill passed the House; however, it will face strong headwinds in the Senate.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, was introduced by House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat from New York. It passed the House 220 “yea” votes to 204 “nay” votes.

Cannabis is legal for adult-use in 19 states and for medical use in 36 states. This bill would end the federal ban, but leave legalization up to the states. The legal industry generated $25 billion in sales last year, a 43% increase over 2020, and is expected to hit $65 billion in 2030.

During his opening statement, Nadler said that the bill, if made into law, would reverse decades of injustices waged on Americans, and especially communities of color. “Whatever one’s views are on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, the policy of arrest prosecution and incarceration at the federal level has proven both unwise and unjust,” Nadler said. “For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem, instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health.”

Troy Carter, a Democrat from Louisiana, said 91% of Americans want some form of cannabis to be legal and there are more important priorities cops should be focused on. “Law enforcement cannot afford to chase small pot offenders when violent crime is on the rise nationwide,” says Carter. “The war on marijuana is a costly relic of the past.”

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Caucus chair, said there is a mass incarceration problem in the U.S, fueled by the “prison industrial complex” in America. He says former president Richard Nixon’s failed war on drugs disproportionately targeted Black and Latino Americans and noted that the fact that the U.S. imprisons more people per capita than China and Russia is a “stain.” Ending the federal government’s ban on pot would be a step in a positive direction.

“It has ruined individual lives, ruined families, and ruined communities, particularly in communities of color,” said Jeffries. “It’s time to end the federal cannabis prohibition.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said this is an important issue because the majority of Americans want cannabis to be legal. He also said that he used to support tough-on-marijuana policies earlier in his political career. “I was a supporter of the war on drugs, I’ve been here a long time… but it’s not a gateway drug, I’ve been convinced of that,” said Hoyer. “Marijuana has been legalized in 40% of our states, and medical marijuana is legal in 36 states. This is not out of the ordinary, this is something Americans tells us is an appropriate thing to do.”

Despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans are in favor of legal marijuana, there were plenty of nay-sayers in the House. Cliff Bentz, a Republican from Oregon, managed the bill’s opposition, said the MORE Act is a “bad and incomplete bill.” Representing southern Oregon, where illegal cannabis grows have become a pervasive problem rife with organized crime, says a better bill would fund the police to battle issues like the illicit market.

Bentz said legalization has been a disaster for Oregon, explaining that drug cartels are stealing water and threatening locals. He also says the tax rate of 8% would make legal pot 30% more expensive, giving illegal operators a nice margin to exploit.

Looks like Maryland is struggling, too

www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cannabis-bill-leaves-champions-of-criminal-justice-reform-dissatisfied/ar-AAVQEfV?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=9b2d428a4cca405d853c802f8459520b

Gonna run down to 711 real quick and grab a pack of seeds, lol

Honestly I am not sure how I feel about 8. I would prefer national legalization and safety regulations so the manufactured product is safe. Until then, I would rather put energies to legalization of good ole 9. I will am a bit wary of all manufactured thc products, particularly vape oils because of this. For now, unless it is made by a crustacean, vaporizing the real deal seems the safest to me. Even told my son to just buy real weed if he is going to do anything until better regulation occurs.

That’s how it got started here too. Hang in there brother, it could get better. When they realize tobacco might not be their best crop things will change. 
I grew up in a feral world and now the state and I’m sure Uncle Sam have their claws in it. But we aren’t hiding from felonies anymore

I need more specifics, which part confused you. I did find it interesting and have to look at a few years back to see the parallels 

I have lots of thoughts on the subject currently but don't know if I could get into it without getting into politics. I will say that I'm all for the change for med side but am not happy about other purposed changes to the laws we already have.

There seems to be more dispensaries in Colorado than 7-11s and MacDonalds combined.

Hopefully Virginia will be NORMLized in 4 to 20 years.

<<If approved by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the budget will make it a misdemeanor to carry more than four ounces of cannabis but less than a pound in public.



<<A first offense would be a Class 3 misdemeanor, which will leave those found guilty with a criminal record and up to a $500 fine, and a second or subsequent offense would be a Class 2 misdemeanor, which could bring up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.>>

Youngkin initially wanted a two ounce threshold. 

The law is harmful to people who break the law. That is all.

Of course that will be the time your guy did you a solid and sold you overweight oz's.

Then just roll two of these.