Virginia General Assembly passes bills to legalize marijuana, abolish death penalty, and more
Bills that passed through the House, Senate head to the other chamber for review
Tags:
Similar bills passed both the House and Senate after some debate.
“Legalizing marijuana will not end the illegal activity in sales,” said Del. James Leftwich, Jr. Chesapeake (R-78).
“This bill provides social equity and helps improve those communities who have been most impacted and harmed by the prohibition against cannabis,” said Del. Don Scott Jr., Portsmouth (D-80).
The bill eliminates criminal penalties for marijuana possession of less than one ounce for anyone 21 or older. It clears those convicted of certain marijuana-related crimes and adds a tax on retail marijuana and products.
Sen. Mark Peake s bill was in reaction to postcards sent to teens offering outreach on sexual health questions as part of the Virginia Department of Health s "BrdsNBz" program.
Sandy Hausman has that story.
Last year’s election involved an unusually large number of absentee ballots that were not scanned before election night, which was why districts where Trump had been leading suddenly swung into the Biden column.
Senator Creigh Deeds, a Democrat from Bath County, has proposed changes to Virginia s election laws.
Credit Senate of Virginia
“I think 61% of the people who voted on Election Day voted for President Trump, says state Senator Creigh Deeds. 65% of the people who voted absentee voted for President-elect Biden. There’s a perception of wrongdoing, or a perception that something is fishy when you have these late-night swings of votes.”
State lawmakers hoping to reform the way utilities work in Virginia suffered a defeat in the General Assembly this week, but they’re hoping for success