A questionnaire was sent out to all Senate, House of Delegates, Commonwealth’s Attorney, and Sheriff candidates for the November 5 General Election. Below is the grading scale used for based on their answers. Consideration for endorsement requires an A grade.

Candidates, submit your response to the Virginia NORML 2019 Candidate Questionnaire or email intern@virginianorml.org for assistance.

For media inquiries, please contact jennmichelle@norml.org.

ABBREVIATION KEY

GRADING SCALE

QUESTIONS

Ending Federal Prohibition (EF)

Over three dozen US states and territories, including Virginia, are regulating marijuana for medical and/or adult-use, despite marijuana’s federal illegality. Ending federal prohibition would alleviate the tension between these states and the US government and allow states to set their own policies free from federal interference. Do you support or oppose ending the federal prohibition of marijuana?

Legalizing Responsible Adult-use (AU)

Legalizing the responsible adult-use of marijuana provides states the opportunity to take marijuana off the street corner and place it behind an age-verified counter to better provide for consumer and public safety and prevent youth access. Taxing and regulating the adult-use of marijuana also provides economic stimulus through job creation and tax revenue. Do you support or oppose legalizing and regulating the responsible use of marijuana by adults?

Physician-authorized Medical Cannabis (MU)

Over three dozen US states and territories, including Virginia, regulate doctor-recommended medical cannabis, and all but two states now allow for some use of medical cannabis or its derivatives. Virginia’s is not a state-legal model, rather it operates by affording participants an affirmative defense. Virginia also restrict products to only those that can be compounded from cannabis extracts and dispensed by a cannabis-specific pharmacy. Do you support or oppose legalizing the use of physician-authorized medical cannabis?

Marijuana Decriminalization (DE)

Over three quarters of Virginians, including a majority in every demographic, support fines not crimes for simple marijuana possession. Marijuana may be decriminalized by substituting a civil penalty in place of existing criminal penalties at the state level. Examples of civil penalties are fines, citations, or community service. Do you support or oppose decriminalizing the simple possession of marijuana?

Expungement of Past Convictions (EX)

The prohibition of marijuana allows for the disproportionate criminalization of black and brown Virginians, despite similar rates of consumption across all races and ethnicities. Currently, Virginia is at a 20 year high in marijuana related arrests costing us $100 million in enforcement. The impacts of marijuana criminalization are far reaching and include long-lasting collateral consequences well beyond the criminal charge. Do you support the automatic expungement of non-violent marijuana possession convictions?

SENATE CANDIDATES

Herb Jones (SD 3)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Stan Scott (SD 4)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Bill DeSteph (SD 8)
Political Party: Republican, incumbent
Legislative History: ​SB 1380​, ​HB 1720​, ​SB 1557​, ​SB 1632​, ​SB 1719
B: ​EF/AU/MU/DE

Annette Hyde (SD 24)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Elliot Harding (SD 25)  Endorsed
Political Party: Independent
Legislative History: N/A
A: ​EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Jill H. Vogel (SD 27)
Political Party: Republican, incumbent
Legislative History: N/A
B: ​EF/MU/DE/EX

Ronnie Ross (SD 27)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Adam Ebbin (SD 30)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​SB 997
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Barbara Favola (SD 31)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Dave Marsden (SD 37)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​SB 1719​, ​SB 1557
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

HOUSE OF DELEGATES CANDIDATES

Sam Rasoul (HD 11)
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​HB 1861
B: ​EF/MU/DE/EX

Brent Finnegan (HD 26)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Joshua Cole (HD 28)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Rachel Mace (HD 41)
Political Party: Libertarian
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Paul Krizek (HD 44)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: N/A
A: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Patrick Hope (HD 47)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​HB 1861​, ​HB 1720​, ​HB 2079
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Lee J Carter (HD 50)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​HB 2373
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Maria E Martin (HD 52)
Political Party: Republican
Legislative History: N/A
F: ​None

Morgan Goodman (HD 55)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
egislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Elizabeth A. Alcorn (HD 58)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Karrie K. Delaney (HD 67)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Sheila Bynum-Coleman (HD 66)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Rodney Willett (HD 73)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Steve Heretick (HD 79)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​HB 2371​, ​HB 2079
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Glenn Davis (HD 84)
Political Party: Republican, incumbent
Legislative History: ​HB 2245​, ​SB 1719​, ​SB 1557
C​: MU/DE/EF

Ibraheem Samirah (HD 86)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Jessica Foster (HD 88)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Mike Mullin (HD 93)
Political Party: Democrat, incumbent
Legislative History: ​SB 1380​, ​HB 1720
B​: EF/MU/DE/AU

James Jobe (HD 96)
Political Party: Libertarian
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Mark Downey (HD 96)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democrat
egislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

LOCAL CANDIDATES

Jorge Amselle (Warren County Sheriff)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democratic
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Koran Saines (Sterling District Supervisor)  Endorsed
Political Party: Democratic, incumbent
Legislative History: N/A
A: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Conrad Schesventer (Virginia Beach City Council)
Political Party: Libertarian
Legislative History: N/A
A​: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Crystal Robens (Hanover Board of Supervisors- Beaverdam)
Political Party: Democrat
Legislative History: N/A
A: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX

Scott Williams (Sheriff for York County-Poquoson)
Political Party: Independent
Legislative History: N/A
A: EF/AU/MU/DE/EX