Pubdate: Sun, 25 Jan 2015
Source: Progress-Index, The (VA)
Copyright: The Progress-Index 2015
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=2271
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2274

SEN. WANTS TO ALLOW SMALL AMOUNT OF POT

RICHMOND - State Sen. Adam Ebbin wants Virginia to join more than a 
dozen states that have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The lawmaker is pushing a bill that would downgrade the offense from 
a criminal charge to a civil one with a fine of up to $100.

Under current Virginia law, a criminal arrest for having a small 
amount of marijuana could have serious consequences - from a 
six-month driver's license suspension to having to check a box on job 
applications admitting to a criminal history, said Ebbin, 
D-Alexandria. There also is a wide racial disparity in how the law is enforced.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom