The Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee killed a bill Jan. 31 which would decriminalize marijuana possession.
Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Fairfax, proposed the Senate Bill 686. According to an Associated Press release, the Republican-controlled committee rejected the bill on a 9-5 party-line vote.
The bill would have eliminated jail time as a punishment for the possession of marijuana and establish a maximum $100 civil penalty.
Ebbin said he remains in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana.
“I first learned of the penalties for possession of marijuana when a constituent brought it to my attention,” Ebbin said. “Upon further research and meeting with leaders on the issue, it’s clear that prohibition has failed in its goal of deterring usage. I believe we should stop making criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens.”
The American Civil Liberties Union endorsed the bill.
Frank Knaack, ACLU policy and communications director, said the ACLU supports the decriminalization of marijuana because it promotes a better approach in dealing with drug abuse.
“[Not passing the bill is] harmful to our efforts to get a more just criminal system,” Knaack said. “Drugs should be viewed as a public health issue, and not a criminal justice issue.”
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also supported the bill Ebbin proposed.
“The Virginia State Conference applauds Senator Ebbin for recognizing and addressing the disproportionate arrest rates and the economic impact marijuana arrests and incarceration has had on the minority and economically challenged communities,” Fairfax county NAACP leader Shirley Ginwright said in a press release. “We support the passing of Senate Bill 686.”
Ebbin said his efforts to decriminalize marijuana would not stop, though Senate Bill 686 did not pass.
"I will continue to work for lessening the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana,” Ebbin said. “Recent polling shows that over seven in 10 Virginians support the decriminalization of marijuana and I believe that we will ultimately be successful."
First-year College student Allie Turner, a Virginia native, said she was not surprised by the legislative decision.
“I think it’s too early for this legislation to pass in such a purple state, where legislation like this isn’t going to get passed unless it’s spearheaded in other states too,” Turner said.
The Virginia State Police, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys opposed the bill.
The Virginia State Police declined to comment. The Fraternal Order of Police and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys could not be reached for comment.
— Brendan Rogers contributed reporting to this article
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