A mayor in Virigina is pushing for immediate cannabis legalisation

Richmond, Virginia, Mayor Levar Stoney urges heads of state to legalize cannabis during a special session of the legislature slated for later this month. In a letter Stoney sent Tuesday to Governor Ralph Northam, House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, and Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, the Mayor wrote that legalizing marijuana and passing other political reforms, which he recommends "would help increase equality and integration in the Commonwealth of Virginia". "Not only do marijuana arrests make up the majority of total arrests in Virginia, but there are also a disproportionate number of blacks among those arrests," Stoney wrote in the letter. "Let's not forget the negative impact arrest and conviction can have on a person's life, particularly when it comes to employment and housing opportunities," Stoney wrote in the letter. Stoney called on the governor and lawmakers to pass a bill that would legalize marijuana and introduce an excise tax that could be used on a government program that provides services to low-income students. "Our children need support now more than ever, and this restorative justice approach provides that care," he wrote. The Richmond Mayor's letter also called for legislation that would allow for the automatic deletion of certain criminal convictions, writing, "Virginia is one of ten states that neither has criminal records closed for adult convictions nor automatic deletion for those who do are eligible to offer what makes it one of the most lenient states in the nation when it comes to giving a second chance. "Studies have shown that eradication can have significant economic, social, and public safety benefits for individuals and the community as a whole. Individuals whose records have been erased see opportunity and income gains, which has been shown to lead to lower relapse rates," he added added. Stoney also called for increased funding for mental health services, particularly programs that combine public health services with police crisis intervention measures. He also suggested that lawmakers establish a nationwide database to document police misconduct and the sharing of records between various law enforcement agencies to ensure problematic officers are not otherwise reinstated after they are dismissed or disciplined. Stony's letter also included a motion for legislation that would put into effect a nationwide program of evictions, modeled on a program announced in Richmond last January. As part of this voluntary program, pro bono attorneys are used as judicial intermediaries to negotiate settlements between tenants and landlords, and financial assistance is provided to tenants who qualify for the program.