With a new Democratic majority in the state legislature, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is hoping to make major reforms to the state's cannabis laws.
Herring, who is hosting a cannabis summit on December 11, told Cheddar on Tuesday he is bringing together legislators and experts in an effort to push forward his calls for reform.
"I'm really encouraged about the prospect of actually passing decriminalization in Virginia and the prospect of actually passing a plan to move to legal and regulated adult use," he said.
Herring is hopeful that by providing lawmakers a space to ask questions and address concerns with experts, as well as individuals from states that have already legalized or decriminalized marijuana use, his state can move towards passing new legislation.
Marijuana arrests in Virginia hit a 20-year high in 2018, and enforcement costs the state more than $80 million annually, Herring said.
"In Virginia, an arrest and a criminal conviction stays with you your whole life … That's not fair," he said, noting the disproportionate number of black Virginians arrested for marijuana possession.
But he says he is confident Virginia can move forward "in a historic way."
Cheddar recs the Olympic Opening Ceremony, 'Tig Notaro: Drawn,' 'Bosch' Season 7, and 'Flatbush Misdemeanors' for streaming the weekend of July 16, 2021.
The Canada goose isn't native to Long Island, New York but now flocks of them are permanent residents. While most are migratory, some have made their homes in the area especially as more wild areas turn into green spaces for parks, housing developments, and businesses. Long Island Geese Control has found a solution to get rid of the birds without using chemicals or harming them: They send in specially trained border collies to chase them away. President and CEO Bill Alemaghides joined Cheddar News to tell us more.
American swimmer Becca Meyers has pulled out of the Paralympics because she says the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee won’t let her bring her mother to Tokyo as her personal care assistant.
President Biden predicts full vaccine approval is coming "soon," an inside view from a hospital in an under-vaccinated state, the Olympics already technically underway and Alexa gets a new male voice, if you want it.
Smoke and ash from massive wildfires in the American West shrouded the sky and led to air quality alerts on parts of the East Coast.
U.S. life expectancy fell by a year and a half in 2020, the largest one-year decline since World War II. The decrease for both Black Americans and Hispanic Americans was even worse: three years.
Fireworks burst over the Brisbane River and high-rise buildings across the city as people cheered, danced and celebrated the confirmation of Brisbane's bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.
Jill and Carlo wrap up the big space news after Jeff Bezos' successful trip, more setbacks for the J&J vaccine, an air quality alert for the East Coast, Giannis brings home the trophy and a broadcasting first in the MLB.
A Nashville Predators prospect has come out as gay. Luke Prokop posted on Twitter he is no longer scared to hide who he is.
Fears about the Delta variant hit the stock market as calls grow for the return of mask mandates. Jeff Bezos prepares to fly to the edge of space and more.
