Will Youngkin once again be at odds with history, maintaining the status quo which punishes people for actions that are no longer crimes?
By Stephanie Shepard, Last Prisoner Project via Virginia Mercury
Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican from Virginia, had an opportunity to rectify a grave injustice within Virginia’s criminal justice system. Instead, he chose to veto a bill that would have modified the sentences of incarcerated individuals under state supervision for cannabis-related offenses.
That decision denied relief and potential freedom to more than 1,844 people—men and women still paying the price for laws that have since changed.
These women, men, and children have spent far too much time apart from family and community. The stories of these individuals are essential to ending a broken system that criminalizes plants that have therapeutic and medicinal benefits.
Virginia General Assembly took a stand once more for justice and second chances, by moving a measure that will provide retroactive relief to individuals who committed crimes related to cannabis. Youngkin can now do what is right as these measures move through the legal process.
Virginia’s HB 25,55 will create a procedure for sentence modification. It allows incarcerated persons and those who are under state supervision to request relief for certain cannabis-related crimes.
This bill is an important step in the right direction for justice and fairness within Virginia’s legal system. As societal views on cannabis have evolved—and as entrepreneurs make millions of dollars from the legal cannabis industry—HB 2555 would rectify past convictions, offering affected individuals a chance to clear their records and reintegrate into society.
It is hard to deny the momentum for cannabis justice reforms. States across the United States are taking measures to combat the wide racial disparities and the economic inequality created by war on drugs. Virginians recognize that these reforms are important, as have their elected officials.
This bill would promote social justice. The War on Drugs has adversely affected marginalized communities. This reform can address disparities in the way that it provides relief for Black, Brown and other communities who were unjustly impacted due to previous cannabis laws.
Youngkin will now make the final decision, as these bills are no longer before the Legislature.
Virginia Governor: Cannabis reform and sentencing are very popular. One poll found that 84 percent of registered voters support the release of people serving time for crimes that are no longer considered illegal. A separate survey found that 72 percent of voters approve of President Joe Biden’s pardons for nonviolent offenses, including 55 percent of Republicans.
First-hand, I can attest to the necessity of such legislation. After serving 9 years in federal prison for the first time, I was convicted of cannabis crimes. Many people like myself remain in prison while I return home. My time in prison will not go to waste; I’ll continue to fight for their release until the last cannabis convict is released.
Will Youngkin once again be the villain of history, upholding a system that penalizes people for actions that are no longer crimes? He will either embrace fairness and common sense, or he’ll offer relief to the inmates who were wrongfully imprisoned.
This is the right path to take. This bill has broad support, is sensible, and will create a just Commonwealth.
Virginia may have a history of prohibition, but it must also address the damage that was caused by this policy.
Stephanie Shepard, director of advocacy at Last Prisoner Project.
Virginia Mercury published this article first.
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