#marijuanadecriminalization

Reposted from @natlnorml VICTORY! Governor Northam has approved bills to decriminalize marijuana and legalize medical cannabis.⁠ ⁠ "Virginians have long opposed the criminalization of personal marijuana possession, and Governor Northam’s signature turns that public opinion into public policy,” said NORML Development Director Jenn Michelle Pedini, who also serves as the executive director of the state affiliate, @Virginia.NORML.⁠ ⁠ “Later this year, Virginia patients will finally have access to medical cannabis products and explicit legal protections thanks to Senator Marsden’s legislation. Additional dispensing facilities, telemedicine, and program registration for nonresidents are among some of the many legislative improvements we were able to accomplish this year.”⁠ ⁠ The bills contain technical amendments which must be approved by the legislature before the new laws take effect on July 1.⁠ ⁠ Tap link in bio to read more on the NORML Blog!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #NORML #VirginiaNORML #marijuana #cannabis #marijuanadecriminalization #decriminalization #thc #cbd #marijuanamovement #cannabiscommunity #cannabisculture #medicalcannabis #medicalmarijuana #mmj #cannabisnews #marijuananews #Virginia #RalphNortham #VirginiaGeneralAssembly https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7vjogBntp/?igshid=p4n3nd1cc7td

The state is the 27th to decriminalize or legalize marijuana. On Sunday, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) announced he signed a bill that will eliminate jail time for simple marijuana possession, leaving only a civil penalty with a fine in place for the first offense. Northam previously said decriminalization was a priority for him, and the newly elected Democratic-controlled legislature soon followed his lead. This is not full marijuana legalization. Under decriminalization, penalties carrying jail or prison time are removed, but lower-level penalties, like a fine, remain in place and sales remain illegal. Under legalization, all penalties for marijuana possession are removed, and sales are typically allowed. Some opponents of legalization favor decriminalization as a step toward peeling back America’s harsh drug and criminal justice policies. They see “tough on crime” policies as too punitive and costly, but they don’t want to resort to full legalization, which they fear would make pot too accessible in the US and allow big corporations to sell and market the drug irresponsibly. The concern for legalization advocates is that decriminalization keeps the ban on selling marijuana, which means users wouldn’t have a legal source for the drug, and criminal organizations would therefore still have a source of revenue they can use for violent operations around the world. The fines, while less punitive than arrests or prison time, can also cause problems, since they’re often applied in a racially disparate manner. #marijuanadecriminalization #decriminalization #marijuanamovement (at Virginia Gardens, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7qXboJOgi/?igshid=1t2ubr02l3shn

Virginia is on the brink of decriminalizing marijuana possession after both chambers approved the proposed legislation this week. #virginia #marijuana Read the full article

Indiana Sen. Karen Tallian filed a bill that seeks to decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, arguing the state is well behind the times. #marijuana #indiana Read the full article

A bill seeking ti decriminalize marijuana in Virginia edged forward this week when the Senate Judiciary Committee referred it to a subcommittee. #marijuana #virginia Read the full article

Almost 20,000 Virginians were convicted of marijuana possession in 2018 and more than half of them were African American. #virginia #marijuana Read the full article

Much move for the beautiful island of Trinidad and Tobago!🇹🇹👏👏👏 A bill to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession in Trinidad and Tobago was approved by the nation’s House of Representatives on Wednesday. The recently introduced legislation would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis. A fixed fine would be imposed for possession of more than 30 but fewer than 60 grams, and it would not impact an individual’s criminal record if the debt is paid. The proposal would also provide a pathway for expungements of prior cannabis convictions and allow individuals to cultivate up to four plants for personal use. An earlier version specified that they must be male plants, which do not produce flower, but that was amended after lawmakers received public input. Representatives spent about eight hours debating the bill, and its approval comes after a series of amendments were made in committee. It’s expected to get a vote in the Senate later this month. There are some provisions that don’t sit well with reform advocates. Specifically, the measure imposes new penalties against possession and distribution of other substances such as LSD, MDMA and ketamine. The decriminalization bill is one part of a package of marijuana reform proposals that the government brought before Parliament last month. Another piece of legislation, the Cannabis Control Bill, would legalize cannabis for medical, research and religious purposes and establish a regulatory body to approve licenses for marijuana businesses. That proposal was also discussed during the House session on Wednesday and has been referred to a Joint Select Committee, which is tasked with delivering a report on the bill by February 29, 2020, local journalist Clydeen McDonald reported. #trinidad #marijuanadecriminalization #hemplife420magazine (at Trinidad and Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_YhgEJO3G/?igshid=cvap9zk39sj9