Virginia: Marijuana bills dies in House subcommittee

Virginia: A House subcommittee has unceremoniously tabled a pair of bills that would have liberalized Virginia's marijuana laws, in effect killing them. One measure would have made possession of under one ounce of pot a civil infraction punishable with merely a $500 fine. The other would have allowed doctors to prescribe marijuana for any medical condition, if the Federal government ever allows it. Virginia already has a law that says if FDA changes its rules on pot, doctors could prescribe marijuana for cancer and glaucoma.
At today's subcommittee meeting, each received a lengthy and serious hearing. Their death was a surprise to no one.
But there was one big surprise: Republican Majority Leader Morgan Griffith announced to the subcommittee that though he opposed the bill to decriminalize marijuana possession he had, in fact, drafted the bill to allow for medical marijuana and he supported its passage. He then gave a fairly impassioned defense of the idea that doctors should be allowed to prescribe cannabis, arguing it is no more dangerous than many drugs already allowed for medical use. "I truly believe that if we allow the use of morphine, opiates and oxycotin, we ought to allow for this," Griffith said. His support for allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis for medical use in Virginia could presage widening support for the idea. But, only in future years. This year, despite his effort, the panel voted to table the legislation 4 to 2.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Marijuana
• Cannabis
• Virginia

[FreeThought911]

@MrNicknac Well said sir.

[WalnutGrooves]

Our state of Virginia is a work in progress. Most of my fellow Virginians actually do possess common sense, but unfortunately our delegates and reps still have money and power on their minds more so than justice.

[flametard]

i bet the people running these meetings are so out of touch with modern times, that they have no clue how to even access a youtube comment to this video, where they would learn what the rest of us Virginians think of them. If they wanna completely control us voters with their petty hierarchy at least give us slaves our dope that's all were asking for assholes. we already smoke it.

[flametard]

the virginia "house sub committee" is more like a middle school clique than a group of people in touch with modern society. Marijuana is here, Virginians already smoke it and it is not bad for society. Just legalize it already, its money.

[MrNicknac]

its too bad that virginias cant just vote for this and see what comes of it. if the people want this than thay should be allowed, the problem with the system is that the politician do not want to stick there necks out. so i say but it in the hand of the people let us virginians decide and skip the politicians

[mewmaster151]

unfortuantely i live in a state run by ignorant rednecks attention house of delegates, you are failing miserably give the people what they want we have spoken

we pay you with OUR tax dollers that you TAKE without asking you throw us in prison your police harrass us your non rich white suburban areas crumble you dont care about us only your own greed you serve only yourselves and you are a disgrace

[mewmaster151]

@jenn1ifer show me proof show me research show me the scientific and physical evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that cannabis has harmed a single human being in the entire history of mankind

[wieldshooter14]

It will be legal one day hopefully

[jenn1ifer]

marijuana is not harmless. 

[crib1981]

all these budget cut governor Bob Mcdonell has proposed from city workers to education possibly public safety. If VA would legalize pot and have all sale controlled by the VA government and tax it. it would be no need for budget cuts. VA would rake it 2 to 4 billion a year VA has stupid politics its, time for all of the united states to get with the program.