Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation adding Virginia to the majority of states that have decriminalized possession of marijuana.
Northam signed two bills on Thursday that cemented the policy, which will go into effect on July 1 and make possession of less than an ounce of marijuana punishable by only a civil penalty of no more than $25. Under current Virginia law, a possession first offense can result in up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, while a second offense can result in up to a year in prison.
The change in law also means that any summons given for simple possession will not appear on a person’s criminal record, although if a violation is recorded while the person is driving, it will still appear on their driving record, according to CNN.
Both of the bills were passed by the state legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, in March. Northam’s approval makes Virginia the 27th state in the country to decriminalize simple possession.
Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, hailed the move and said it would allow authorities to focus their attention on important crimes.
“We applaud the legislature and the governor for implementing a policy that will allow law enforcement to focus resources on more serious crimes and prevent Virginians from having their lives derailed for possessing cannabis, a substance that is safer than alcohol,” Hawkins said.
The legislation also paves the way for future legalization in the state as it creates a group to study how legalizing marijuana would affect the state, with the group set to turn over its findings to the governor and legislature by November 2021.
