Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee

HB 265 — Marijuana; decriminalization of simple marijuana possession, civil penalty.

Last action — Incorporated by Courts of Justice (HB972-Herring)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Marijuana; decriminalization of simple marijuana possession; penalty. Decriminalizes marijuana possession and provides a civil penalty of no more than $25. Under current law, a first offense is punishable by a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum jail sentence of 30 days, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that a person who possesses no more than one-half ounce of marijuana possesses it for personal use and provides that the existing suspended sentence and substance abuse screening provisions apply only to criminal violations or to civil violations by a minor. The bill decreases from a Class 5 felony to a Class 6 felony the penalty for distribution or possession with intent to sell more than one-half ounce but not more than five pounds of marijuana. This bill was incorporated into HB 972.

Bill Text

  • Impact statement from DPB (HB265) View text Current html December 30, 2019

Action History

  1. Incorporated by Courts of Justice (HB972-Herring)

  2. Impact statement from DPB (HB265)

  3. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  4. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20100927D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 134 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (13)

Not signed on (134)

134 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Votes

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 265 do?
Marijuana; decriminalization of simple marijuana possession; penalty. Decriminalizes marijuana possession and provides a civil penalty of no more than $25. Under current law, a first offense is punishable by a maximum fine of $500 and a maximum jail sentence of 30 days, and subsequent offenses are a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that a person who possesses no more than one-half ounce of marijuana possesses it for personal use and provides that the existing suspended sentence and substance abuse screening provisions apply only to criminal violations or to civil violations by a minor. The bill decreases from a Class 5 felony to a Class 6 felony the penalty for distribution or possession with intent to sell more than one-half ounce but not more than five pounds of marijuana. This bill was incorporated into HB 972.
Who sponsors HB 265?
HB 265 is sponsored by Karrie K. Delaney, Patrick A. Hope, Shelly A. Simonds, R. Lee Ware, Rodney T. Willett, Lionell Spruill, Sr., Elizabeth R. Guzman, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Samirah, Ibraheem S., Levine, Mark H., Kory, Kaye, Jenkins, Clinton L., Guy, Nancy D., and Heretick, Steve E..
What is the current status of HB 265?
This bill died with 2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 265?
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