While it still remains unlawful for a person to knowingly or intentionally possess marijuana unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his professional practice, new state law in Virginia states that a person who possesses marijuana is “subject to a civil penalty of not more than $25.” And because it is no longer considered a crime to possess marijuana, state lawmakers passed new legislation prohibiting prior marijuana convictions from barring employment, sealing records with a few exceptions, such as applications to purchase a firearm.
