Over the past three years, four states and Washington, D.C., have legalized small amounts of marijuana. In these jurisdictions, marijuana is regulated in a way that is similar to the regulation of tobacco and alcohol, and is taxed by the state. Well, a group hopes to make Virginia the next state to legalize and regulate.
Virgnia NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) is launching their "Smoke the Vote" campaign to try to gain support for marijuana legalization, and to eventually get it on the ballot for Virginia voters. According to Virginia NORML's Jenn Michelle Pedini, the state of Virginia spends $70 million a year on prosecuting marijuana cases when we could be using the money to prosecute violent rather than victimless crimes. Earlier this year, a poll conducted by Quinnipac showed that a majority of Virginian's agree with Pedini and support the legalization of recreational marijuana, with 54 percent in favor and 41 percent in opposition. However, even with this much support, Virginia's marijuana advocates are facing an uphill battle.
While other states have decreased their enforcement of marijuana laws, Virginia has actually dramatically increased theirs by almost 10,000 arrests annually from 2003 to 2014. These arrests have shown a racial motivation as well, with African Americans being 3.3 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana even though they are just as likely to be in possession of it as their white counterparts. Even though this troubling statistic has gained many supporters for drug reform laws, there are still many who worry about the safety of the public if marijuana is to be legalized.
Some in Virginia have raised concerns over a possible increase in drugged driving if marijuana reform takes place, thus increasing the amount of traffic accidents and endangering the public. However, since marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in Colorado, highway fatalities are at their lowest since 2002. With so many problems with the enforcement of marijuana laws and the concerns of those in opposition of reform being easily debunked, maybe it's time that Virginia realized reform may not be such a bad thing.
In the last fiscal year, Colorado brought in $70 million in taxes from marijuana, making it much more profitable than alcohol, and totaling the amount that we currently spend on prosecuting marijuana cases in Virginia. Imagine how much the state of Virginia could get accomplished if we brought in that much money instead of spending it on prosecuting and then incarcerating non-violent offenders. Find out ways that you can help support the grassroots movement for marijuana reform here.
