Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana under state law in late May, which will take effect July 1, 2020. The new law makes possession of marijuana for personal use a civil penalty of no more than $25, rather than a criminal conviction subject to jail time, and also prohibits employers from requiring job applicants to disclose information concerning any arrest, criminal charge or conviction for simple possession of marijuana. Employers and educational institutions will be subject to criminal penalties if they willfully violate this “ban-the-box” rule.
