Virginia Police Reduce Enforcement of Minor Marijuana Crimes

Over the last few years, arrests for marijuana possession in Virginia have drastically decreased. Loosening of attitudes toward marijuana in the state may be a contributing factor. Since 2013, there has been a 14% decrease in marijuana-related offenses.

In 2013, there were 25,981 marijuana-related arrests, according to Daily Press. In 2015, that number decreased to 22,428. This was the largest reduction in marijuana-related charges in the last decade and a half.

Criminal defense attorney Ron Smith said, “And it ain’t because less people are smoking marijuana. Virginia changes the law very gradually, and you can feel it happening. Even if they don’t say ,’Hey, it’s legal,’ you can see that slow pull, that slow walk toward legalization.”

Smith speculates that within a few years it could just be a law that’s still “on the books” but isn’t enforced.

In Newport News, a more significant drop in arrests was shown. In 2011, there were 1,461 marijuana-related charges, but only 578 in 2015, a 60% decline.

Smith also believes that police are relaxing a bit. He said, “They’re picking the apples that they can reach, but they’re not standing on ladders. I’m not saying they’re turning their heads, but they’re not doing anything to look past what’s right in front of them.”

In 2012 and 2013, prosecutors in Hampton and Newport News chose not to prosecute adult misdemeanor marijuana possession cases because they were draining resources for more serious crimes. Hampton Commonwealth Attorney, Anton Bell said, “We were wasting resources when we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Bell’s statement coincides with Newport News Commonwealth Attorney Howard Gwynn’s position. Gwynn isn’t prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana possession cases either.

Newport News Police Chief Richard Myers, “Certainly locally here in Newport News, the absence of a prosecuting attorney to help the officers with marijuana charges has had a significant and adverse impact on the officers’ ability to make those cases. And we know with certainty that that has contributed significantly with each passing year to the decrease in our marijuana cases.”

Virginia police officers aren’t “turning the other cheek,” they’re just being mindful of what an arrest-worthy offense is and that resources should be used to fight more serious crimes.