The state of Virginia has seen a dramatic drop in marijuana arrests this summer since a new law was legalized that allows possession of small amounts of cannabis and for residents to keep a few plants.
According to a Richmond Times Dispatch report, there were twenty five marijuana related arrests in Richmond and in Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties in the first seven weeks after the law took effect on July 1st.
“A 90% reduction in marijuana arrests indicates that the public policy is performing as intended and in a manner that is consistent with post-legalization observations from other states,” said Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
The new Virginia law legalized possession by adults age 21 and over to up to 1 ounce of marijuana and the cultivation of four plants per household.
The law also had other decriminalization provisions. Selling marijuana remains illegal.
The newspaper has also noted that marijuana enforcement was not a high priority for Richmond’s police department during a time of high numbers of shootings and slayings.
Richmond “officers are focused on the evolving needs of our communities to include gun violence, homocides, theft from motor vehicles, and reducing occurrences of residential burglaries and robberies,” city policy Chief Gerald Smith said.
