Virginia Advances Bill To Help Prior Cannabis Offenders, Now It’s Up To Gov. Youngkin
Virginia lawmakers have advanced a measure this week, aimed at helping individuals with prior cannabis convictions.
SB 696 from Sen. Angelia Williams Graves (D) was approved by the members of the House of Delegates in a 52–43 vote on Monday. The measure has already advanced through the state Senate last month. The chamber’s members green-lighted House amendments to the measure on Tuesday.
This legislation ensures those with past cannabis offenses will receive resentencing hearings and potentially have their penalties reduced.
“Upon a hearing for modification of a sentence pursuant to subsection D, the court shall consider that marijuana has been legalized, and may reduce, including a reduction to time served, vacate, or otherwise modify the person’s sentence, including removing such person from community supervision, unless the Commonwealth demonstrates it would not be compatible with the public interest to do …