Tell Legislators and Governor Spanberger to keep the public use fine at $25.

DPA and our allies in the Marijuana Justice and the Virginia CannaJustice Coalition are fighting to stop harmful increases in public consumption fines for marijuana. These massive fines for low-level marijuana offenses will impact all Virginians, but are enforced disproportionately against Black and brown communities. They create debt that low-income people cannot afford. They can trigger cascading harms in immigration, housing, education, and employment like loss of housing, job, or deportation.

With the framework of the retail market and public policy approaches that will shape our state for decades on the line, your input matters.

Send your legislator and Governor Spanberger a message to support a final legalization framework that focuses on public health, equity, repair, and reducing criminalization for public use.

Take Action

Your Message

Subject

Dear Delegate / Senator / Governor,

Message Body

I am writing to urge you to support a final cannabis legalization framework that keeps the public consumption fine at $25. We must reject any increase that lacks data and would deepen racial and economic disparities. We appreciate the delay to enact proposal, but forcing advocates to revisit and rehash the battle to protect the most vulnerable in Virginia is a familiar tactic to re-opening the war on drugs.

Evidence is clear: higher fines and penalties for low-level marijuana offenses are enforced disproportionately against Black and brown communities, create debt that low-income people cannot afford, and can trigger cascading harms in immigration, housing, education, and employment.

I urge you to support the following:

* Maintain the $25 civil fine for public consumption

* Reject any proposals that raise fines or add criminal penalties for low-level marijuana use

* Center racial equity and harm reduction in all cannabis policies

* Ensure legalization reduces over-policing and over-incarceration instead of recreating them through fines and fees

* Ensure we are making policy based on data rather than creating policy and looking for the data later

These policies will help Virginia move toward real legalization that repairs past harms, prioritizes public health, protects vulnerable communities, and keeps people out of the criminal legal system.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

Your Information

Salutation *

Alternate Salutation

Most elected officials’ constituent email systems accept a very limited set of salutations. Please select the one you would most prefer.

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone

* Drug Policy Alliance is committed to protecting your privacy and will never share your email address.

If you sign and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.

If you take action and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.

If you donate and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from the Drug Policy Alliance.