You’re Invited: Stop By Norfolk City Council to Lobby for Marijuana Reform

At some point in the next two weeks or so the Norfolk City Council will decide on its legislative agenda for the 2017 session in Richmond.

It is our hope that they include marijuana reform, as suggested by Councilman Paul Riddick.

It is critical that our elected officials know that this is the will of their constituency. A letter writing campaign has been ongoing, but face-to-face testimonials are also vital.

We will speak in favor of marijuana decriminalization — and Norfolk’s leadership on this issue — at the City Council meeting this Tuesday, October 11th.

The meeting starts at 7pm. Please get there at least 15 minutes early to sign your name to the speaker sheet. While formal attire is not required, I encourage you to dress in a way that reflects the seriousness of this important social justice issue of our time.

City Council meetings take place on the 11th floor of City Hall, which is located at 810 Union Street. There is an adjacent parking garage, and plenty of parking downtown, which is just a few blocks away.

For some relevant statistics, quotes from experts, and background, I encourage you to check out a column I have written on the subject for the Virginian-Pilot, NFK Dreams: Decriminalize marijuana in Norfolk & Virginia. This article is also handy: 7 Talking Points for Supporters of Marijuana Decriminalization in Norfolk and Virginia.

Also, check out the story Wavy did regarding our Decriminalize Norfolk meeting at Slover Library last week. Note the poll results at the end: at this moment of my typing an overwhelming 93.75% of 1,471 vote-casters believe that Norfolk should decriminalize marijuana. As much as an online poll can be a mandate for reform, this one might be.

This movement is growing. Your actions will play an essential role in reforming the current hypocritical, functionally racist, and family-destroying marijuana laws in the Commonwealth.

To stay in tune with the action, here is Decriminalize Norfolk on Facebook.

Let your voice be heard in Norfolk. Email your City Council members: mayor@norfolk.gov, theresa.whibley@norfolk.gov, mamie.johnson@norfolk.gov, martin.thomas@norfolk.gov, paul.riddick@norfolk.gov, thomas.smigiel@norfolk.gov, andria.mcclellan@norfolk.gov, angelia.williams@norfolk.gov; and the city manager, marcus.jones@norfolk.gov.

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Jesse Scaccia

Jesse was formerly the editor of AltDaily.com and a columnist for the Norfolk Compass & PilotOnline. His work has been published on the pages of The New York Times and on televisions everywhere through his time as a documentary producer with B.E.T.

Jesse often writes about the causes he believes in, including public art, public education, improved mental health care and awareness, the NEON District, government transparency, civic engagement, the decriminalization of marijuana, alternative transportation, and supporting local businesses and culture.

In a former life Jesse was a public school teacher in Brooklyn and San Diego, and a mentor at a home for young men in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a devoted yogi, Knicks fan, live music lover, and road tripper.

To reach this writer, email jesse -at- altdaily.com.