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Virginia Voters Support Medical Marijuana, Split on Recreational Weed Legalization

A new poll indicates the overwhelming majority of Virginia voters support a medical marijuana program that would make pot available to the people who need it for medical treatment. But when it comes to legalizing recreational pot, voters are split almost evenly.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, about 83 percent support medical marijuana and 13 percent oppose it, in a new poll from Quinnipiac University. That same poll found 46 percent support recreational pot with 48 percent opposed. [Read more…]

Violent Crime Down; Drug Offenses Up in VA

Crime statistics from 2011 were released in the annual crime report Crime in Virginia this past week. According to the report, violent crime was down last year, though drug offenses were on the rise.

The report, released in conjunction with the Virginia State Police, says homicides fell to 3.77 per 100,000 population, after being at 4.61 per 100,000 in 2010. Robberies fell 4%.

Violent crime overall was down 6.2% since 2010.

Property offenses also dropped 2.2%. This includes burglaries, larcenies, and motor vehicle thefts.

Many states and major metropolitan areas have experienced unexplainable drops in crime over the past several years, shattering the long-held belief that crime rates went up in times of economic hardship. Experts can’t explain why this is.

The only crime segment that seemed to rise, according to the report, was drug offenses. In 2008 and 20009, such offenses fell. But in both 2010 and 2011, they rose again. This past year, they climbed 7.1% since the prior year.

Drug offenses, including everything from marijuana possession to heroin distribution, cover a lot of areas. And because drug problems affect nearly all segments of the population, no one is exempt from possible arrest.

Interestingly, the boom in prescription drug use has led to an increase in heroin usage, even among suburban and rural youth. In the past, when heroin was popular, it was mainly seen in urban settings. But the use of prescription opiates has driven people from the suburbs to seek out the far cheaper and more potential alternative.

The Crime in Virginia report is issued annually by the Virginia State Police. It is designed to provide a snapshot of crime across the state, including the hours at which crimes are committed, who the victims are, and offender characteristics. Much of this information will be shared with the federal government in their annual reports as well.

So what does all of this mean for the person accused of a crime? Not a whole lot. Prosecutors will still go after the “bad guy” with zeal, and judges will still continue to penalize those adjudicated guilty with a heavy hand.

If you are accused of a criminal offense, you need someone working on your behalf in this system where it can seem like everyone is against you. Contact us today for a free consultation and to see how we might be able to help.

Drug Charges for Mom When Son Mailed Marijuana to House

What happens when a son has six pounds of marijuana mailed to his mom’s house where he lives? It can mean that mom gets charged with felony drug trafficking/intent to distribute, which is exactly what happened to one Virginia Beach family.
The son admitted to the crime and has pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and said that his mom was not involved.
However, she remains convicted of drug charges as an accessory after the fact, which presumes that she knew what had happened. She is still currently suspended from her teaching job while fighting the charges on appeal.

Will “Spice” Be Banned In Virginia?

“Spice” is the latest legal way to get high for many students and young adults. It’s created using chemicals on a legal plant and then smoked for its intoxicating effects, and is considered something akin to a “synthetic marijuana”.
According the Virginia State Crime Commission, the substance is banned in at least three other states and Virginia may be next. There is no word on whether the name itself is derived from the novel Dune.
The problem with “spice” is in the health risks, according to supporters of criminalizing the substance. The American Association of Poison Control Centers states that in this year alone, they have received about 1,800 calls about the substance—70 of those coming from Virginia.
Nausea and seizures are among the potential side effects, though it doesn’t seem that anyone has had a fatal reaction. While I’m not suggesting we wait for someone to die before it’s criminalized, I am simply pointing out that there are far more dangerous legal substances currently on the market with no bans in place.
The substance is marketed as incense and usually involves spraying a number of chemicals on dried leaves like catnip. Makers of K2 and other forms of spice state it is not meant to be smoked and they cannot control what their consumers choose to do with it.
The high this substance provides is said to be similar to a marijuana high and this is why it’s commonly called a “synthetic marijuana”. It can be purchased at tobacco shops and other unique gift stores and “head shops”.
State legislators in Virginia are discussing banning the substance and there’s a good chance it will happen. Six bills have been introduced which would make spice illegal, criminalizing the chemical ingredients responsible for the resulting high rather than criminalizing the brand name or finished product.
There’s no indication how the substance would be classified or what the penalties would be for being found in possession of such a substance. If banned, the new possession laws would likely take effect later in 2011.
Critics are more concerned with adding another substance to the list of drugs already outlawed. While smoking spice might not be a smart idea, criminalizing it shouldn’t be the first line of defense. In a system that is losing the “War on Drugs” and incarcerating more people each day for nonviolent crimes, adding to the counterproductive laws doesn’t seem like a smart solution.
There’s a good chance spice will be banned here and throughout the country as the “tough on crime” approach still has the country in a headlock. We’ll just have to wait and see how the situation plays out in the legislature this upcoming session.
If you are charged with any sort of possession or distributing drug charge in Virginia, I can help. Contact our offices today for a free consultation on your case.