Legalize Marijuana in Virginia

close up photo of kush on glass container
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How the Repulican Party killed legalizing marijuana in Virginia.

Since January 16th, 2019 it is come to my attention that the delegates in the Commonwealth of Virginia do not care about the people that they are supposed to serve and vote on behalf of and to their benefit. I say since the 16th because the delegates of subcommittee 1 of the House of Justice Committee ruled to currently pass by indefinitely, which means to throw out and never bring back up for voting on 4 different bills that would have legalized marijuana. Now I find it ridiculous that 8 people can make a decision that can affect over 8 million Virginias.

Sounds a lot like the executives of a monopoly deciding to make changes that would hurt millions of Americans, except we could prosecute them under anti-trust laws. Maybe we should be allowed to sue and prosecute our Delegates and representatives in general when they vote against what most of the public they serve want.

Bills, HB2370, HB2079, HB2371 and HB2373 that would have made marijuana legal in the Commonwealth of Virginia were cut down by the Republican party just for spite a far as I can tell. The vote was straight across party line. One week after a Democratic Governor, Ralph Northam, called for decriminalization of marijuana in Virginia the 5 Republicans of the subcommittee 1 voted to kill the bills while the 3 Democrats voted to keep the bill alive and move them along their way towards becoming law.  As a registered Republican I can say those 5 Republican delegates did not vote for me or in a way the will improve my life.

Two Bills put forth by Delegate Steve Heretick, 1 by Del- Charniele Herring and 1 by Del.-Lee Carter, all Democratic Delegates, were voted down by the Republicans setting on the committee. I for one am tired of both the Republican and Democratic parties voting against each other just to be assholes instead of voting the way their constituents want them to vote. The polls show that the majority of Virginians are in favor of legalizing marijuana especially for medical use but also for recreational use for all those people over the age of 21.

In fact, polls by The Wall Street Journal, Gallop, and The Pew research Center show that Americans in general want the same things. A Pew poll shows that 62% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. Gallop shows that 66% wants to legalize marijuana and 94% of Americans believe the medical marijuana should be legal in every state and Commonwealth, as well as a Gallop poll that shows 53% of the Republican leadership in America support legalization. So, no matter how you put it for me you could say that this is how a Republican can learn to hate how the Republican party is serving it’s constituents and embrace the Democrats.

Or perhaps you prefer to ask questions like: How people in need of medical marijuana keep getting screwed over by the Republican party or How 5 people can make medical decisions for 1.7 million Virginians each without voting the way their district wants them to vote. I myself suffer from several medical issues that would benefit from the use of medical marijuana, but I guess I will just keep downing opioids one after the other, because that’s legal but not Marijuana, yeah that makes sense.

I think what we need to do is bombard the offices of the Delegates who voted these bills down with Emails, letters and phone calls to tell them exactly what the people of Virginia want and that if they will not vote the way we want we can and will remove them from office the next time they are up for election. In fact, here is the information for the delegates that need to change their voting to help instead of hurt Virginians by voting in favor of legalizing marijuana.

Gilbert, C. Todd (Chair) 15th E606 R (804) 698-1015 (540) 459-7550 DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov
Bell, Robert B. 58th E311 R (804) 698-1058 (434) 245-8900 DelRBell@house.virginia.gov
Adams, Leslie R. (Les) 16th E205 R (804) 698-1016 (434) 432-1600 DelLAdams@house.virginia.gov
Collins, Christopher E. 29th E420 R (804) 698-1029 (540) 539-1724 DelCCollins@house.virginia.gov
Ransone, Margaret B. 99th E412 R (804) 698-1099 (804) 472-4181 DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov

 

These are the delegates who voted the correct way to follow what the voters in their districts want and not just to go against the other party for spite. I say we let these people know that they are doing a good job of voting in favor of helping Virginians.

 

Watts, Vivian E. 39th E203 D (804) 698-1039 (703) 978-2989 DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov
Herring, Charniele L. 46th E223 D (804) 698-1046 (703) 606-9705 DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov
Mullin, Michael P. 93rd E424 D (804) 698-1093 (757) 525-9526 delmmullin@house.virginia.gov

 

Also, let us not forget the Delegates who put forth these bills for voting and let’s tell them that we appreciate what they are doing on behalf of Virginians. Be sure to show them your support by voting them back into office the next time they are due for reelection no matter what party you are registered with. I am a Republican that will be voting in favor of these delegates when they need to be reelected to office.

Delegate Steve E. Heretick   (D) – House District 79

In-session address:

Mailing address:

  • 715 Loudoun Avenue
  • Portsmouth, Virginia 23707
  • (757) 397-9923

Delegate Lee J. Carter   (D) – House District 50

In-session address:

Mailing address:

  • O. Box 243
  • Manassas, Virginia 20108
  • (571) 261-8546

Delegate Charniele L. Herring   (D) – House District 46

In-session address:

Mailing address:

  • O. Box 11779
  • Alexandria, Virginia 22312
  • (703) 606-9705

I know there are thousands if not tens of thousands of medical patients in Virginia, not to mention other states where marijuana is still illegal, that can and need the benefits of marijuana. I can only hope that there are enough like-minded people out there who are willing to speak up and make a difference. I personally have faith that in the near future I will not have to keep Narcan on hand in case I overdose on opioids because I will be able to buy marijuana and get off the opioids completely.

Well as always I hope you enjoy my post. Some will like it, some will hate it, but all will have an opinion about it.

Thank You

Blane O’Dell

 

 

 

 

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