1/29/98
Governor Gilmore took office this month calling for a "new war on drugs," and a flurry of regressive bills will give that to him, if passed. Please help stop the new drug war before it starts. Last year, DRCNet members made a difference in saving the state's medical marijuana bill from being repealed. This year we can make a difference again. Virginia's whirlwind legislative session will be over and done in a matter of weeks, so please call now! Tell your state senators and delegates to stop promoting the drug war and to oppose the following bills. Use the state's toll free number to reach them -- (800)889-0229 -- or use the legislative contact information at the bottom of this post.
Please bcc us on your e-mail, send us copies of your letters, or at least send us a note letting us know what actions you have taken. This will help us raise funds for the organization, and may even help the lobbyists out in the field. Reprinting of this alert is encouraged -- please just send us a copy of any newsletters or fliers that include it, and make sure to include our name and web site: "Drug Reform Coordination Network -- http://www.drcnet.org".
To get more involved in the Virginia effort, sign up for VA- DPR, the discussion group DRCNet is co-sponsoring with Virginians Against Drug Violence -- send e-mail to [email protected] with the line "subscribe va-dpr your name" in the body of the message, or write to [email protected] for assistance.
HB 381: Death penalty or life imprisonment for 6 grams
of heroin or 28 grams of cocaine. Because Virginia is already a leader
in execution, we must take this seriously. Non- violent youngsters who
make a mistake don't deserve to die.
sponsor: Johnny S. Joannou
HB 247,268,281: Seeds and Stems -- back with a vengeance.
Police have said they will push for these bills which would increase marijuana
penalties dramatically by including the weight of the non-psychoactive
portions of seized marijuana when determining sentencing.
sponsors: Clifton A. Woodrum, Donald McEachin, Jeannemarie A. Devolites
HB 59: Would suspend any commercial drivers license for 90
days following any positive drug test, and would require employers
carrying out the tests to report positives to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(Note: they are not testing whether people are under the influence while
actually driving.)
sponsor: Clifton A. Woodrum
HB 388: Establishes governmental "management" of
women with drug use history after they give birth. Numerous medical
and public health associations have spoken out against such legislation,
which tends to frighten poor women away from seeking the pre-natal care
that would help both them and their children.
sponsor: Marian Van Landingham
HB 361 & SB 216: Both reduce amounts to qualify as a kingpin.
This was already done not long ago, so call today before everyone is a
kingpin. HB 316 also increases penalties for money laundering offenses.
Money laundering laws have a "trickle down" effect that harms
the poor, by scaring financial institutions away from poor neighborhoods
where any cash transaction might considered suspect by the authorities.
sponsors: Glenn M. Weatherholtz, Kenneth W. Stolle
SB 212: Increases the five year mandatory minimum for schedule
I or II substances to ten years.
sponsor: Kenneth W. Stolle
SB 217: A provision of this bill would turn any drug offense
into a class 6 felony, if the offender also possessed a firearm (even
if possessing it legally, and even if it bore no relation to the drug offense.)
sponsor: Kenneth W. Stolle
SB 194: Introduces new mandatory minimums for persons
who involve minors in drug distribution offenses. While we don't approve
of recruiting minors into the drug trade, we recognize it as an inevitable
consequence of prohibition. Mandatory minimums lead to miscarriages of
justice by removing discretion from judges who could otherwise look at
the individual case.
sponsor: Malfourd W. Trumbo
SB 317: Requires all misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenders
to pay a fine and submit to a "drug assessment".
sponsor: Kenneth W. Stolle
HB979: "Specifically creates a statutory civil remedy for
persons aggrieved by illegal use of controlled substances or marijuana."
The infamous "Drug Dealer Liability Act" comes to Virginia,
allowing anyone to sue anyone with any connection to drugs, for any community
harm related to drugs (even if the harm really comes from prohibition).
sponsor: Terry G. Kilgore
You can phone your state Delegate, or find out who he or she is, by calling (804) 786-6530 (legislative information) or (804) 786-8826 (clerk's office). You can find call your state Senator, or find out who he or she is, by calling (804) 786-3838 (legislative information) or (804) 786-2366 (clerk's office). If calling from in state dial (800) 889- 0229 toll-free. Internet users can contact their Senators via http://208.9.8.6/comment.htm on the web.
You can write your state legislators at:
| The Honorable {your Delegate} | The Honorable {your Senator} |
| House of Delegates | Senate of Virginia |
| P.O. Box 406 | P.O. Box 396 |
| Richmond, VA 23218 | Richmond, VA 23218 |
Your voice will make a difference, so let your reps in Richmond know how you feel. For more info, call Lennice Werth at (804)645-8816, or e-mail Michael Crawitz at [email protected]. Please send us copies of your correspondence, with bcc on e-mail, fax to (202) 293-8344, or mail to DRCNet, 2000 P St., NW, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20036.
If you like what you see here and want to get these bulletins by e-mail, please fill out our quick signup form at http://www.drcnet.org/signup.html.
