A key Senate committee in Virginia has approved legislation that would seal all marijuana possession-related charges.
Today, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted 9 to 3 to approve Senate Bill 1466, filed recently by Senator Scott Surovell (D). A companion bill in the House —House Bill 2723— was also filed recently, by Delegate Charniele Herring (D).
Both measures seek to ensure that all charges and convictions for marijuana possession are sealed automatically, eliminating the need for court orders. Although the proposals would not cover certain Department of Motor Vehicle records, businesses that perform background checks would be obligated to quickly remove marijuana-related offenses that have been sealed from their databases.
The committee’s approval comes just days after the Virginia State Crime Commission approved several recommendations on record-sealing policies, including those focused on marijuana.
Colin Drabert, Deputy Director of the commission, says the proposals ensure “that all possession of marijuana offenses are sealed, regardless of whether they’re a conviction or not a conviction, without the entry of a court order.”
