Virginia Officials Advocate for Automatic Sealing of Cannabis Possession Records

LOS ANGELES- Virginia state officials are advocating for legislative measures to automatically seal all criminal records related to simple cannabis possession without the necessity of court orders. The Virginia State Crime Commission (VSCC) has endorsed recommendations to ensure that both convictions and non-convictions for cannabis possession are sealed automatically. Colin Drabert, Deputy Director of VSCC, emphasized that these proposals aim to seal all possession of cannabis offenses without requiring a court order.

In alignment with these recommendations, State Senator Scott Surovell introduced Senate Bill 1466, and Delegate Charniele Herring presented House Bill 2723. Both bills seek to facilitate the automatic sealing of all charges and convictions for cannabis possession, thereby eliminating the need for individual court orders.

This initiative builds upon previous efforts in Virginia to address past cannabis-related convictions. In 2021, the state sealed approximately 330,000 misdemeanor cannabis possession convictions and an additional 64,000 misdemeanor distribution convictions following the legalization of adult-use cannabis.

The proposed legislation aims to further streamline the process by ensuring that all cannabis possession records are sealed automatically, without requiring court intervention. This approach is intended to reduce barriers for individuals seeking employment, housing, or educational opportunities that might otherwise be hindered by prior cannabis-related offenses.

The success of these proposals now depends on the actions of the Virginia Legislature and Governor Glenn Youngkin. If enacted, Virginia would join a growing number of states implementing automatic record-sealing policies for cannabis-related offenses, reflecting a broader shift toward addressing the long-term impacts of prior cannabis convictions.