Blog Posts in 2020

Drug Schedules in Virginia

While the federal government lists prohibited drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, Virginia also has its own state-specific drug schedules in its Drug Control Act. In today’s blog, I will go over the drug scheduling classifications in Virginia from Schedule I through VI, as well as the penalties for possession of each scheduled drug. Drug Schedules I Through VI Under Virginia’s Drug Control ...

Manslaughter vs. Murder: What's the Difference?

While both manslaughter and murder involve killing another person, there is a key distinction between the two. In this blog, I will discuss the differences between manslaughter and murder under Virginia law, as well as the penalties and sentencing for each conviction, the more severe of which is associated with murder. Manslaughter vs. Murder Voluntary Manslaughter Voluntary manslaughter is a ...

Simple Possession of Marijuana Decriminalized in Virginia

As of July 1, 2020, simple possession (without the intent to distribute) of an ounce or less of marijuana in Virginia is now only punishable by a maximum civil fine of $25 and no longer reflected on a person’s criminal record. For multiple violations, there will be no escalating penalties. Previously, possession of half an ounce or less was a misdemeanor offense that carries a jail term of up to ...

Updated Virginia Theft Law Effective in July

As of July 1, 2020, the felony larceny threshold in Virginia has now doubled, raising the amount from $500 to $1,000. Gov. Ralph Northam signed the bill into law on March 4. The following is the updated version of the Virginia theft laws: Petit Larceny – Stealing items from a place that is valued less than $1,000 or stealing money or items from a person’s body valued less than $5 is a Class 1 ...