Category: Virginia
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Loudoun County Officials Push Back Against Cannabis Legalization, Tax Revenue
Last week, The Outlaw Report noted the ongoing effort in King George County, Virginia to figure out how they can prevent the cannabis legalization that was approved statewide—and begins in July 2021—from happening in their majority white, 188-square mile jurisdiction. “I saw first-hand the effects drug abuse can have on individuals as well as the…
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Virginia’s King George County Wants To Keep Cannabis Illegal
As Virginia rushes towards its expedited July 1, 2021 date for cannabis legalization, resulting in a number of cannabis-related companies rapidly entering the industry—even as it leaves those incarcerated for cannabis behind—at least one county is trying to figure out how to keep cannabis illegal. King George County officials have asked the county’s attorney to…
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District Hemp Owner Talks CBD in D.C. Amid COVID and People and Pets’ Needs
Last week’s episode of The Outlaw Report podcast was a conversation with Barbara Biddle, the owner of District Hemp Botanicals, located in the DuPont Circle neighborhood of Washington D.C. Biddle also owns two other hemp CBD boutiques in Virginia. We discussed the hemp industry in D.C., and how her business has been affected by the…
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Virginians Jailed for Weed Will Stay Locked Up Even After Legalization
While there is much to celebrate in the July 1 legalization of adult cannabis use in Virginia, many argue the new law’s failure to address resentencing is a significant flaw: It does not address those currently incarcerated for cannabis charges. The long, complex bill was approved by the legislature late in the 2021 session, amended…
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Virginia Cop Involved in Violent Arrest on 4/20 No Longer a Cop
Virginia State Trooper Charles Hewitt, who was involved in the violent arrest of a Black man named Derrick Thompson on Apr. 20, 2019 is no longer with the Virginia State Police. This incident first went public in July of last year when Thompson’s lawyer, Joshua Erlich released video of the arrest recorded on Thompson’s cell…
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Cannabis in the South: Advocates Talk Racial Justice and Reform Strategies
On 4/20, a Zoom panel about cannabis intersected with the imminent reading of the Derek Chauvin verdict, which highlighted the importance of racial justice in legalizing weed in the South. Five cannabis experts participated in the conversation that ran through the 4:20 hour and purposefully closed just before Judge Peter Cahill read the verdict, announcing…
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Are Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Patients Protected at Work? A Closer Look at the New Law
In late March, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed HB 1862 into law, which provides some employment protections for state-registered medical cannabis patients. At the time, Executive Director of Virginia NORML Jenn Michelle Pedini described the new legislation as “an important initial step.” What rights does the law impart to employees and employers? The Outlaw Report…
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420 Events in MD, Virginia, and D.C. (2021)
Note: This article was published in 2021. Follow this link to check out 420 events for 2022. Maryland 4/20 – Cali Vibes hosted by Jahfarii & Dj Suplex. The Garage, 6 East Lafayette Avenue Baltimore. 7pm-11pm. LINK. 4/20 – Got 5 On It: Game Night – 420 Edition!. Virtual event presented by Explore Maryland Cannabis.…
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gLeaf in Richmond Plans Medical Cannabis Drive-Thru for Summer
Medical Cannabis patients in Virginia may soon be able to cruise through a drive-thru to fill their prescriptions. This summer, Green Leaf Medical, AKA gLeaf, plans to open a dispensary in a former KFC/ Long John Silver’s in the Short Pump area of Richmond. GLeaf already has a large dispensary in the city’s Southside, which…
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The Outlaw Report Podcast: Sweet 16—New York & New Mexico Legalize
The Outlaw Report podcast host Scott Cecil is joined by friend of the show and cannabis policy expert on Capitol Hill, Mike Liszewski, to talk about cannabis legalization in New York and New Mexico, the 15th and 16th states, respectively, to legalize cannabis for adult use. They go on to discuss the theoretical prospect of…
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‘This Is a Win’: Governor Amends Virginia Cannabis Bill for July Legalization
On March 31, in a win for Virginia drug-reform, Governor Ralph Northam proposed an amendment to legalize adult cannabis possession July 1, 2021, instead of 2024. This shift in the timeline was a central goal for the activists and legislators who aim to help Virginia address the racial disparities of its War on Drugs. While…
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MedMen’s PharmaCann Virginia Lawsuit Stalls Medical Cannabis in Staunton
Medical cannabis companies vying for a license in Staunton, Virginia, are in limbo, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by PharmaCann Virginia, which is owned by California-based MedMen, a major player in the dispensary market. PharmaCann Virginia was originally a subsidiary of PharmaCann, Inc., in Illinois but was later transferred to MedMen. PharmaCann previously…