Category: Virginia
-
Violent Arrest in Virginia on 4/20 Last Year Involving Cannabis Smell Being Investigated
The violent arrest of a Black man named Derrick Thompson by Virginia State Police is being investigated after Thompson’s lawyer, Joshua Ehrlich, released video of the arrest to the public and contacted Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring about the incident. The arrest, which took place on April 20, 2019 (the unofficial international cannabis holiday) began…
-
Virginia Medicinal Cannabis On Its Way, Maryland Medicinal Continues To Deal With Racial Equity
The Outlaw Report has been paying close attention to the cannabis reforms happening in Virginia this past legislative session including decriminalization of possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, a serious look at implementing legalization, and the establishment of a medicinal cannabis program. The speed at which Virginia has navigated these reforms has illustrated…
-
For Many Advocates in Virginia, Decriminalization Is Not Enough
Just because Virginia’s cannabis decriminalization has gone into effect, it doesn’t mean the push for cannabis legalization for recreational adult-use has slowed. While passing decriminalization also included a provision to ensure a study about legalization would happen (two different reports on the topic are due later this year), many want legalization to happen sooner and…
-
Virginia Cannabis Decriminalization: What It Is and What It Isn’t
On July 1, the state of Virginia decriminalized possession of cannabis of up to one ounce. This law, a few years in the making (it was ostensibly part of Governor Ralph Northam’s campaign in 2017), eliminates any criminal penalty for having small amounts of cannabis and also eliminates cannabis possession appearing on one’s criminal record…
-
Quick Hit: Learn About Weed and Vaping…From the DEA
Last month, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a whole bunch of drug fact sheets, detailing the basics of a number of drugs from A to Z or close enough to A to Z—more like from amphetamines to U-47700. The fact sheets are part of the DEA’s Get Smart About Drugs (GSAD) program, focused on…
-
Embattled Cannabis Company MedMen Loses Its License In Virginia
California-based cannabis behemoths MedMen is teetering on the edge right now. What was not too long ago the largest and most valued cannabis company in the world, has been amid a public relations nightmare for months now and was recently kicked out of burgeoning medicinal cannabis state, Virginia. Earlier this month, the Virginia Board of…
-
The Outlaw Report Podcast Episode 03: Cannabis and Defunding The Police
In the third episode of The Outlaw Report podcast, Prohibited podcast founder Scott Cecil talks to reporter Brandon Soderberg about racial justice and cannabis amid nationwide protests against police violence following the police killing of George Floyd. Cecil and Soderberg discussed Washington D.C.’s proposed budget and its perceived workaround for facilitating a commercial cannabis industry…
-
West Virginia Medicinal Cannabis Program Considers Its 2021 Launch
Not long after it was announced that West Virginia would likely not have a medicinal cannabis program until 2021, the state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board (MCAB) hosted a virtual meeting last week providing a number of updates on its infamously, slow-going program. In April 2017, West Virginia passed a bill allowing for the creation of…
-
Concerned About Racial Equity In The Cannabis Industry? Consult The Accountability List
Cannaclusive, a website advocating for black representation in the legalized cannabis industry recently released The Accountability List. Posted as a Google doc and therefore “a living document,” The Accountability List gathers cannabis and hemp companies and details whether or not they are black-owned, the number of black people employed, and the company’s comments (or lack…
-
Virginia Governor Connects Cannabis Reform To Nationwide Protests Against Police Violence
Last week during a press briefing, Virginia governor Ralph Northam, who has been instrumental in moving cannabis reform forward in the state, connected cannabis laws to the broader Black Lives Matter movement and the current moment of nationwide protest against police violence and police militarization. “Through 400 years of American history—starting with the enslavement of…
-
Virginia’s Expansive Cannabis Reform In 2020—and Who It Leaves Behind
Last week, Virginia’s decriminalization of cannabis possession of up to an ounce became official—it goes into effect on July 1. It is the most notable legislation amid a number of cannabis bills that passed in what was a legislative session of sprawling reform regarding cannabis in the state. 18 bills succeeded in passing both the…
-
Virginia Cannabis Decriminalization Is Official; ACLU Explains How Cops Can Still Bust You For Weed
Last week, Virginia’s decriminalization bill allowing possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, was officially signed into law. For readers of The Outlaw Report, this is fairly anticlimactic given Virginia governor Ralph Northam’s public support of decriminalization for quite some time including during the 2017 election. Back in February, the Virginia Senate approved Senator…