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The last time a marijuana decriminalization bill was introduced in the Virginia General Assembly the year was 2011 and the patron was Del. Harvey Morgan, R-Gloucester, a former assistant clinical professor of pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University’s medical school. The bill never made it out of committee. The Virginia General Assembly will again consider a marijuana decriminalization bill in the 2015 session, this one sponsored by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria).

The fact that marijuana decriminalization in Virginia has been championed by a conservative Republican from Southern Virginia and liberal Democrat from Northern Virginia is telling. Marijuana law reform is a bipartisan issue supported by a majority of Americans.

The public opinion trend lines are clear. Politicians who fail to embrace reform will find themselves on the wrong side of history. This will play out in the 2016 presidential elections. Voters in Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon have all passed ballot initiatives to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. Presidential candidates will have to support states’ rights if they want to win.