Legalize Cannabis in Virginia

Until 1937 cannabis was part of the pharmacopoeia in the United States. It has been used to treat a myriad of diseases as well as used recreationally with few side effects or negative interactions. In states where it has been legalized, there has been as much as a 25% decrease in opioid deaths. However patients and users in the Commonwealth are penalized for even small amounts of possession and no regard for medicinal use. A second offense may mean jail time of at least a year or more. Valid recent studies have shown it could be useful for everything from epilepsy to cancer to PTSD. Legalized cannabis could be regulated and taxed, providing a safe venue for patients and recreational users as well as contributing to a healthy economy. This plant has been used safely for thousands of years. It is time to make it available legally to the people of the Commonwealth. No one should go to jail for a plant.