“Virginia’s firefighters, emergency services providers, and civil servants across the Commonwealth deserve the same job protections currently provided to private employees for their lawful and responsbile use of medical cannabis. This is a long overdue victory.”
“These findings belie that claim that cannabis is a so-called ‘gateway drug’ and reinforces the notion that, for many individuals and for patients especially, it acts as a exit drug.”
The bill decriminalizes the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and/or up to five grams of cannabis concentrates — imposing a maximum fine of $25.
“Our sense of justice and our principles of fairness demand that public officials and the courts move swiftly to right the past wrongs of cannabis prohibition and criminalization.”
“I count him among the early heroes, and martyrs, of the marijuana legalization movement,” NORML Founder Keith Stroup said. “May he rest in radical peace.”
“A majority of Floridians, like most voters nationwide, support repealing our failed marijuana prohibition laws and replacing them with a system of legalization and regulation. This is a long-overdue opportunity for them to finally make their voice heard where it matters — at the ballot box.”
The legislation provides discretion to physicians to issue medical cannabis recommendations to any patient who may benefit from it. It also allows those ages 65 or older to self-certify for a registration card absent a doctor’s recommendation.
“Governor Youngkin has just shown Virginians exactly how out of touch he is with the widely-accepted science and policy research on cannabis in the US. The only protection Youngkin’s veto provides is to the illicit market that has ballooned during his time office.”