While four states have legalized marijuana and 17 have eliminated criminal penalties for possession of small amounts, arrests in Virginia are rising.

For nearly 50 years, marijuana has been wafting through popular culture, and in the 70’s there was serious talk of legalizing it, but as the nation moved to the political right, that idea went up in smoke.  Today, police in Virginia arrest 20,000-25,000 people a year for possession of marijuana, and this is one of 16 states where the numbers have been rising.  Statewide, pot-related arrests were up more than 5% from 2012 to 2013 – the fourth consecutive year of increase.

This trend defies a perception that possession of pot is not a serious offense.  That’s according to John Gettman, former director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and a professor of criminal justice at Shenandoah University. [Read More]