Marijuana possession is still against the law in Virginia. But one Northern Virginia prosecutor is taking action to sidestep prosecution for low-level offenders.
According to Virginia police, arrests for possessing marijuana are on the rise in the commonwealth. In 2018, almost 30,000 people were impacted. That’s triple the number from the late 90’s.
After losing a high-profile case involving a marijuana-smoking truck driver, the commonwealth’s attorney in Albemarle County has vowed to get some standards on the books for prosecuting people who may be impaired by pot.
While some states have legalized recreational marijuana and other states have decriminalized possession, arrests in Virginia rose last year to the highest level in a decade. People convicted of a first offense are not sent to jail but face other serious consequences.
