Ralph Northam, now our state’s governor, made marijuana decriminalization a centerpiece of his campaign.
“We need to change sentencing laws that disproportionately hurt people of color. One of the best ways to do this is to decriminalize marijuana,” he wrote in a blog post. “African Americans are 2.8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession in Virginia. The Commonwealth spends more than $67 million on marijuana enforcement — money that could be better spent on rehabilitation.”
Northam also sent a letter to the Virginia State Crime Commission, which is conducting a review of the effects of potential decriminalization. “Virginia spends $67 million on marijuana enforcement – enough to open up another 13,000 pre-K spots for children,” he wrote. “African Americans are nearly 3 times as likely to get arrested for simple possession of marijuana and sentencing guidelines that include jail time can all too often begin a dangerous cycle of recidivism.”
GOP Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment has already announced he will introduce legislation next year to decriminalize first-time marijuana possession offenses.
Also on Tuesday, Democrats picked up a large number of seats in the House of Delegates, which likely bodes well for Northam’s efforts to pass cannabis reform bills. Still-pending results in a handful of House of Delegates races could flip the chamber to Democratic control altogether.
Northam has also spoken in favor of expanding the state’s limited medical cannabis law and allowing industrial hemp.
The 45 year War on Drugs has been a resounding failure, and we need to craft a peace treaty.
Almost everything terrible that is associated with illicit drugs is a direct result of its illegality. Violent drug cartels, overdoses, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, corruption of police, judges and entire nations, social dysfunction in many inner-cities, militarization of police, violence of police against citizens, no-knock dynamic raids, killing of innocent people, civil asset forfeiture, etc. All of it because drugs are illegal.
And yet, the quality of drugs has never been higher, nor prices lower. If there is a demand, there will be a supply.
The War on Drugs was ill-conceived, it has been poorly fought, has caused incredible collateral damage, and everyone is the worse for it.
We need a whole new approach.