Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what's
happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
No surprise, coronavirus continues to dominate the news in
cannabis, just as it does in every other realm. It has put state
legalization campaigns on hold, delayed sales roll-outs, and the
problems in Massachusetts could fill this blog post all by
themselves. And there is endless news about the (lack of) relief
for marijuana businesses. But let's start with what would have
been the big headline this week, if we weren't all social
distancing.
VIRGINIA DECRIMINALIZATION
Governor Ralph Northam (D) signed a bill decriminalizing cannabis possession earlier
this week. The law also seals criminal records for simple
possession. The penalty for possession of up to a half-ounce of
marijuana is now $25; the penalty previously was up to a $500 fine
and 30 days in jail.
