News- Biden's Marijuana Announcement
In case you missed it, President Joe Biden recently pardoned simple marijuana possession. This is a positive development and a step toward marijuana legalization in the United States.
Thousands of marijuana possession convictions will be pardoned by the President. But what does this mean for Virginia residents, and what are the details behind the President's announcement? Read on to keep up to date on the recent development.
Pardoning Pot Possession
When Biden was elected in 2020, one of his campaign plans was to seek cannabis decriminalization. This included expungements for people who have previously been convicted of cannabis offenses. Currently, Biden's plan is still in the works. Recently, he took a stand on the topic. The President announced a pardon for those convicted of simple marijuana possession on a federal level.
A person who possesses a small amount of Marijuana with no intent to sell or distribute it is considered to be in simple possession of Marijuana. There must be no connection between the possession and any other crime for it to qualify as simple possession. Medical Marijuana is legal in some states, while recreational Marijuana is prohibited in others. It does not matter whether Marijuana is legal or not in a state if someone is arrested on federal property. Marijuana is still illegal on the federal level. States have different laws for what is considered simple Marijuana possession.
Rescheduling Marijuana
Biden also pushed the Health and Human Services secretary to reclassify Marijuana. While Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, it has no medical benefits and the potential for abuse. Biden wants to change that.
However, this move would not change the federal ban on the recreational use and sales of Marijuana. It would also not allow for recreational use and sale in other states that have not legalized it yet but wish to do so in the future.
Urging All Governors
Joe Biden is urging all governors to reconsider their marijuana policies on the state level. This represents a significant policy shift from the Obama administration, which has opposed legalization efforts. This indicates that the administration is finally catching up with the public's opinion on this issue. This is a major shift for the marijuana reform movement and could lead to even more significant changes in the future. This is still a state-level issue, so for significant change, moves must be made at the state level.
What Does This Look Like?
There were about 500,000 arrests for cannabis-related offenses across the country in 2019. According to the FBI, most charges were state offenses. Pardoning federal convictions for simple marijuana possession could benefit more than 6,500 individuals. Despite that, most marijuana offenders won't benefit due to most being related to state offenses.
Will This Change Anything In Virginia?
There's no real impact on the state level from the President's announcement. In the past few years, the General Assembly decriminalized and legalized small amounts of marijuana possession by adults. The federal government still considers marijuana possession a crime, but the state doesn't. In the past, the Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney's Office handled simple marijuana possession cases with probation and community service. They didn't want their records to reflect drug convictions. The President's action won't have much of an impact other than to give retail sales a boost in Virginia.
Marijuana possession up to one ounce and limited home cultivation are legal in Virginia for those 21 and older. Retail cannabis sales won't start in Virginia until at least 2024 when the regulatory system is expected to be in place. In Virginia, laws have already been passed to expunge records relating to simple possession of Marijuana, but they won't go into effect until the mid-2020s.
Live In Virginia And Need Medical Marijuana
Although good news, not much will change for Virginia residents. It might take some time till significant change is made on the issue of Marijuana. Visit our site for more information on medical marijuana and its potential benefits. If you are interested in Medical Marijuana, book an appointment today!
