Marijuana; legalization of simple possession, penalties. (SB1406)

Introduced By

Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church), Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond), Sen. Lionell Spruill (D-Chesapeake), and Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon)

Description

Marijuana; legalization; retail sales; penalties. Eliminates criminal penalties for simple possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by persons 21 years of age or older, modifies several other criminal penalties related to marijuana, and imposes limits on dissemination of criminal history record information related to certain marijuana offenses. The bill creates the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (the Authority), the Cannabis Oversight Commission, the Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council, the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board and Fund, and the Virginia Cannabis Equity Business Loan Program and Fund and establishes a regulatory and licensing structure for the cultivation, manufacture, wholesale, and retail sale of retail marijuana and retail marijuana products, to be administered by the Authority. The bill contains social equity provisions that, among other things, provide support and resources to persons and communities that have been historically and disproportionately affected by drug enforcement. The bill has staggered effective dates, and numerous provisions of the bill are subject to reenactment by the 2022 Session of the General Assembly. This bill incorporates SB 1243 and is identical to HB 2312. See S. B. 1406 Enrolled PDF text: https://lis.virginia.gov/000/senatecannabisenrolled.pdf See S. B. 1406 Governor's Substitute PDF text: https://lis.virginia.gov/000/senatecannabisgovernorsub.pdf See S. B. 1406 Re-Enrolled PDF text: https://lis.virginia.gov/000/senatecannabisreenrolled.pdf Read the Bill »

Status

02/16/2021: Passed the House

History