House Bill 1507 would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana — also defined as anything less than an ounce. It maintains that it is illegal to “sell, give, distribute” marijuana or to possess marijuana with the intent to sell, give or distribute.

The debate over how to decriminalize marijuana illustrates the broader debate among Democrats over how to approach issues that were long nonstarters in a GOP-controlled legislature. While eager to move on a number of these issues, some in the party have also advocated measured restraint.

In the backdrop is a growing number of marijuana convictions in Virginia as some other states move toward legalization. Marijuana arrests reached nearly 29,000 in Virginia in 2018, their highest level in at least 20 years, according to Virginia State Police statistics.

It’s unlikely that Democrats will move to fully legalize marijuana this session, leading to the search for a stopgap measure that will allow lawmakers time to study the issue, build consensus and consider the regulation needed to welcome the industry.

The next few weeks will see lawmakers grapple with what the stopgap should look like.

Ebbin’s bill, the only one to be heard in any committee so far, cleared a subcommittee of the Senate judiciary panel Thursday.