State of Virginia Archives: on Drugs

Amanda Chase: Marijuana legalization sends reckless message to our kids

"We are sending a message to our kids that it is OK to do drugs in Virginia now," said Chase. "As a mom of four young adults I don't like that message. I think it is selfish. I think it is reckless, and I think it is irresponsible."

Bob McDonnell: Tough sentences for dealers; but new drug courts too

We can break that cycle when we combine tough sentences with other effective policies. In this year's budget I have provided localities with a mechanism for obtaining authorization for new drug courts, at their expense, as long as they meet certain requirements and provide data necessary to evaluate their success. For those released from prison, who have learned from their mistakes, we will provide them with positive opportunities for change through effective prisoner re-entry policies. Over 90% of offenders get out of prison, and we don't want them going back. We want more good citizens and fewer victims.

Ed Gillespie: Opposes decriminalization, but align penalty to pot offense

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie's campaign said in a statement that while Gillespie opposes marijuana legalization or decriminalization, "he does support exploring reforms to make sure that penalties align appropriately to the offense committed."

Ralph Northam: Be open-minded about medicinal plants like marijuana

Northam, the first candidate in the 2017 governor's race to announce his support for marijuana decriminalization, said he believes pot could have some medicinal benefits. Northam, a pediatric neurosurgeon, argues that decriminalization may lead to more research on the use of marijuana to provide relief from pain, drug-resistant epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. Northam noted the latter is of particular concern in a state with a large military and veteran population. "I'm a physician. I like to remind people there are over 100 medicines that we routinely use to take care of our patients that come from plants, so we need to be open-minded," said Northam.

Ralph Northam: Blacks are twice as likely to be arrested for pot possession

While Northam was the first candidate to support decriminalization, he's not the only one who wants to open up the state's marijuana laws. [One pundit] said Northam's announcement could especially help him appeal to younger voters who he's having a difficult time connecting with.

Ralph Northam: Think innovatively about treating pain, to avoid opioids

Physicians need to think more innovatively about the ways we treat acute and chronic pain. [One] high school football [athlete broke his leg and] was rushed to the hospital and started on dilaudid for his pain. He was prescribed other narcotics and became addicted. When his prescriptions ran out, he turned to heroin, and then fentanyl. To support his addiction and to avoid the symptoms of being dopesick, he took actions that led to run-ins with the law. Eventually he spent 18 months in jail.

With medically assisted treatment and counseling, the support of his family, and a strong faith in God, he has been clean for over a year. He and his father have put their family's story together in a powerful video. Please welcome Ryan Hall and his father, Sheriff Kevin Hall, to the gallery.

Ralph Northam: Make marijuana possession a civil penalty only

We want to keep people safe. But we shouldn't use valuable law enforcement time, or costly prison space, on laws that don't enhance public safety. So I'm proposing that we decriminalize simple possession of marijuana.

Current law imposes a maximum 30 days in jail for a first offense of marijuana possession. Making simple possession a civil penalty will ease overcrowding in our jails and prisons, and free up our law enforcement and court resources for offenses that are a true threat to public safety.

Moving forward on this front will have the same significance as our work together to increase the felony larceny threshold: one mistake won't define Virginians for the rest of their lives.

Robert Sarvis: Legalize marijuana & decriminalize harder drugs

• Respecting People's Freedom and Autonomy: Responsible drug use that does not harm others should not be punished.
• Restoring Civil Liberties: Restoring the Fourth Amendment and Reversing the Militarization of Our Police
• Protecting Private Citizens & Law Enforcement Officers: Reducing Gang Warfare, Gun Crime, and Violent Crime
• Supporting Individuals, Families, and Communities in Need: Enabling addicts and victims of abuse to get the help they need; and closing racial disparities
• Establishing Justice: Limiting the overcriminalization of our private lives & Lowering stratospheric incarceration rates
• Saving Money: Refocusing Public Resources Intelligently

Robert Sarvis: Libertarian platform: Legalize marijuana

In 2013, Sarvis was vastly outspent by the two major-party candidates but managed to get 6.5 percent of the vote. Libertarians will nominate their candidate at a party convention in Richmond on Feb. 8. Sarvis said he will run on a similar platform as last year, including small government, a reduction of spending, legalization of marijuana and allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Tom Garrett: Decriminalize pot at the federal level

Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former Democratic congressman Tom Perriello, [both candidates for Virginia Governor in 2017] have spoken favorably towards decriminalization. Despite the apparent bipartisan interest, opinions among members of law enforcement are all over the map.

Garrett said he introduced his bill in response to testimony by Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his Senate confirmation hearing, which raised concerns over whether the Justice Department would take a hardline stance on marijuana under the new Trump Administration. Sessions testified, "Congress has made the possession of marijuana in every state an illegal act. So, if that's something that is not desired any longer, Congress should pass a law to change the rule."

Tom Perriello: Lead the fight to take on our backwards marijuana laws

• Why are we jailing people for possessing small amounts of marijuana?
• 4/20 isn't just a joke. Today we should be frank on the need to get serious about reforming our backwards marijuana laws.
• A veteran I met has chronic pain. His doctor prescribed opioids. He didn't want to get addicted, so he buys a joint in DC to dull his pain.
• When three Virginians are dying every day from opioid addiction, why are we continuing to prohibit medical marijuana for pain treatment?
• It is long past time here in Virginia to fix this. Opioid addiction is a public health crisis, not a criminal crisis.
• It's time to allow medical marijuana to help combat this & find alternate pathways for treatment. Decriminalizing marijuana is a no-brainer.
• As governor, I will lead these fights to take on our backwards marijuana laws.

Tom Perriello: Has spoken favorably towards marijuana decriminalization

Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former Democratic congressman Tom Perriello both have spoken favorably towards decriminalization. Despite the apparent bipartisan interest, opinions among members of law enforcement are all over the map.

Garrett said he introduced his bill in response to testimony by Attorney General Jeff Sessions during his Senate confirmation hearing, which raised concerns over whether the Justice Department would take a hardline stance on marijuana under the new Trump Administration.

Northam, the first candidate in the 2017 governor's race to announce his support for marijuana decriminalization, said he believes pot could have some medicinal benefits.

Terry McAuliffe: Second chance at citizenship for recovering addicts

I want you to meet one of them tonight. Terry Garrett was born in 1968 and grew up in Northern Virginia. After two decades of substance abuse and frequent incarcerations, she found sobriety and turned her life around. Today, in addition to her role as a loving mother and grandmother, Terry is a respected community leader and a sponsor to recovering addicts and former offenders.

Terry made mistakes. She served her time. She became a productive member of her community. But our policy of disenfranchisement made her a second-class citizen. Until last year.

Corey Stewart: Decriminalize marijuana but don't legalize

Tim Kaine (D): Introduced bill to decriminalize at federal level & respect states' rights.

Corey Stewart (R): Decriminalize but don't legalize.

Tim Kaine: Decriminalize marijuana federally; respect states' rights

Tim Kaine (D): Introduced bill to decriminalize at federal level & respect states' rights.

Corey Stewart (R): Decriminalize but don't legalize.

Mark Herring: Crack down on dealers & traffickers who profit off addiction

Because he understands that we can't just arrest our way out of this problem, he has relentlessly pursued a comprehensive strategy that emphasizes education, prevention, and treatment alongside enforcement against dealers and traffickers who profit off addiction.

Attorney General Herring launched an unprecedented five-point plan to address the crisis which includes legislation, education, prevention, enforcement, and collaboration. He was recognized with the "Bronze Key Award" for his commitment and effectiveness in addressing substance abuse.

Ralph Northam: Time to join 16 others states, make marijuana legal

Jennifer Carroll Foy: Introduced legislation to legalize marijuana

Glenn Youngkin: Make sale of deadly drugs a felony homicide

Mark Herring: Cannabis reform: decriminalization marijuana possession

Herring called for the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana, action to address past convictions for simple possession, and a move towards legal and regulated adult use in Virginia.

"While other states are moving to a more sensible approach to cannabis, Virginia is still moving in the wrong direction. It makes absolutely no sense," said Attorney General Herring. "Even more Virginians, especially young people and people of color, are being saddled with criminal records that can drastically affect their lives. Now is the time to put a stop to this costly, unfair, and ineffective approach, and to pursue a better, smarter, fairer course."

Nick Freitas: Environmentally-friendly hemp could be a money maker crop

Justin Fairfax: Supports legalization, expunging non-violent convictions

Glenn Youngkin: Legalization a problem, never met user who was successful

Ben Cline: Medicinal marijuana is better alternative to opioids

Nick Freitas: Treatment for drug addicts and more rehab centers

Ralph Northam: Drug problems are not confined to youth and minorities

Ralph Northam notes drug problems are not confined to younger people or any particular racial or ethnic group. The difference, he says, is that a lot of affluent people who "get hung up on alcohol or drugs have the resources to take care of some of it and to get themselves out of trouble, whereas the lower socioeconomic folks don't."

And use of heroin, which is an opioid, is also skyrocketing. Users addicted to prescription opioids are switching to street heroin for an economic reason: It's cheaper. Since 2010 in Virginia, the rate of heroin overdose deaths has increased nearly five-fold. And white males aged 25-44 are the largest group affected.

Jennifer McClellan: Marijuana legalization coming, end prohibition and penalties

Ralph Northam: We spend $67 million a year enforcing our marijuana laws

A: Yes. I announced a criminal-justice reform package, and one of the things at the top of the list was to decriminalize marijuana. There are far too many individuals who are being arrested and locked up for that. We spend $67 million a year enforcing our marijuana laws. African Americans are 2.8 times more likely to get picked up and arrested and put in jail for smoking marijuana. So, that's a top priority of mine.

As a doctor, that step of decriminalizing marijuana needs to take place so that we can look at using marijuana for medicinal purposes. I led the fight two years ago to use what we call cannabidiol. It's an oil that comes from marijuana, and we use it in intractable epilepsy, which are seizures. There are a lot of potential uses for marijuana medicinally. To be able to decriminalize it and then use evidence-based medicine to move forward--that's very important.

Mark Herring: Marijuana criminalization doesn't work; expunge records

Cannabis reform: Criminalizing marijuana possession is not working. It is needlessly creating criminals, saddling people with convictions and costing taxpayers millions each year. The social and human costs are tremendous, and the weight of the system falls disproportionately on African Americans and people of color. There are smarter, better ways we can handle cannabis and that begins with decriminalizing simple possession of small amounts, addressing past convictions and moving towards legal, regulated adult use.

Expanding opportunities for record expungement: Virginia is one of the nation's least forgiving and most restrictive states for individuals who have earned the opportunity to have old convictions and charges expunged from their records. Too often a relatively minor charge or conviction, such as marijuana or alcohol possession, becomes a permanent stain.

Corey Stewart: Marijuana decriminalization but not legalization