Friends,

The first week of April has brought much welcome news: expanded vaccine eligibility in the Commonwealth and a productive Reconvened Session on Wednesday.

Expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility
Earlier this week, Governor Northam announced that vaccine eligibility will expand to all Virginia adults ages 16 or older by April 18. With over 3.7 million shots administered so far, the Commonwealth is well on its way to protecting Virginians from the deadly coronavirus, and we are beginning to see economic recovery as well, as businesses and institutions begin the process of re-opening fully and overall unemployment rates decrease.

If you have not yet done so, you can register for the vaccine at [link removed]. Vaccine availability has also expanded throughout the Central Region; shots are available at local pharmacies. This vaccine finder app can also help to locate available vaccine doses.

In the meantime, please remember to maintain Safe at Home guidelines, wear a mask, and maintain social distancing when out in public. We are so close to the finish line, but we must continue to maintain vigilance. If a sufficient number of people are not immunized, we face the concerns that the virus will continue to spread, mutate, and build its own resistance to our current vaccines.

Legalization of adult-use, simple possession of marijuana in the Commonwealth
In our discussions about the status of marijuana in the Commonwealth, we have to be careful to define the recent legislation that has now passed: adult-use, simple possession of marijuana will be legal beginning July 1, 2021. Simple possession is not the same as full legalization; the regulatory structure for full legalization and oversight authority must still be established, and this framework will occur over the next three years. In this light, buying, selling, or distributing marijuana remains illegal for the time-being in the Commonwealth.

Governor Northam made several significant amendments to Senate Bill 1406, sponsored by Senators Adam Ebbin and Louise Lucas, and House Bill 2312, sponsored by Majority Leader Charniele Herring. The following amendments were agreed to during the Reconvened Session by both Chambers of the General Assembly:

Legalization of simple possession of marijuana:
Legal possession up to one ounce of cannabis, without intent to distribute, begins July 1, 2021. This amendment maintains current public safety measures that prohibit smoking while driving, smoking while driving a school bus, and possession on school grounds, for example.
Expungement and sealing of criminal records on marijuana:
Expungement of criminal records will begin as soon as state agencies are able to do so; the criteria for when records can be sealed is also simplified. The General Assembly passed broader legislation to implement comprehensive expungement reform beginning in 2025. This generational change requires extensive updates to state agency computer systems and processes, which were made possible by funding in the Governor’s introduced budget.
Budget Amendments:
Two budget amendments to 1) fund a public awareness campaign on the health and safety risks of marijuana, and 2) fund training programs for law enforcement officers to recognize and prevent drugged driving are also included in the amending language
Cannabis Control Authority:
Once the new Cannabis Control Authority is created, it will have the power to revoke a company’s business license if that company interferes with union organizing efforts, fails to pay prevailing wage as defined by the United States Department of Labor, or classifies more than 10 percent of employees as independent contractors.
Legalization for households to grow plants:
This amendment allows a household to grow up to four plants beginning on July 1, 2021.
This legislation works to undo generations of harsh and unfair criminal justice policies that have had a disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities.

A Special Highlight from Reconvened Session
Over the past year, the Science Museum of Virginia (SMV) has served as the host for the Senate of Virginia for multiple sessions. SMV now has a unique place in the history of the Commonwealth as it served as a site for the continuation of government during the pandemic. I was pleased to sponsor Senate Resolution 514: Commending the Science Museum of Virginia. We presented the resolution, co-patroned by all Members of the Senate, on Wednesday, as an expression of our gratitude and appreciation for all the efforts made by the Museum and its staff to support the work of the Senate.


Contacting our office
As always, if you need assistance, or if you want to schedule a Zoom or phone call with our team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. Email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected].

— Ghazala Hashmi



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Senator Ghazala Hashmi was elected to office in 2019 and is honored to represent the 10th Senatorial District (parts of Richmond City and Chesterfield County, and all of Powhatan County). She chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Public Education and is committed to issues of education, healthcare, housing, the environment, and social justice.


 












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