
A bill that would have made possession of marijuana in Virginia a civil penalty instead of criminal has died in committee.
Delegate Harvey Morgan proposed the bill, which was voted on by the criminal law subcommittee of the House of Delegates Courts of Justice Committee in Richmond. The committee effectively killed the bill, meaning that it cannot be introduced for another year.
Del. Morgan was surprised and upset by the committees' rejection of the bill. He, like many others, believes that simple marijuana possession is a burden on the justice system and on first time offenders. Though he does not advocate the use of marijuana he doesn't believe that the criminalization of possession of pot is fair.
"Anyone who has that on a record finds that it is an absolute barrier to employment for a commercial driver's license, to work in a health care profession, to be a teacher," said Morgan.
It seems that this issue is not dead for Morgan. He is reportedly planning to reintroduce a marijuana decriminalization bill in 2012.
The Virginia criminal defense lawyers at Tavss Fletcher are very interesting in the outcome of this legislation and will keep you informed when it is once again proposed to the Senate.
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