Virginia State Senator Blames Cannabis For Rising Crime Rates, 'Democrats Produced Our Current Crisis'

State Senator Bryce Reeves (R) issued a statement Monday claiming that recent marijuana reforms in the state have created confusion, a health crisis and increased crime. 

His comments come shortly after the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee approved Senate Bill 448 which would create a regulated cannabis market with licensed retail sales to begin in 2025. The bill allows cities to opt-out via voter decisions.

Reeves, who serves on the Virginia Senate Cannabis Subcommittee and is an Army Ranger veteran, said that the SB2 bill approved in 2020, which effectively decriminalized simple marijuana possession, caused "mass confusion among those Virginians who do not draw the distinction between legalization and decriminalization." 

The state senator, a retired narcotics detective, said that even though cannabis decriminalization notably lowered the number of arrests for usage, cannabis-related domestic abuse and violent crimes continue to rise. 

"Democrats produced our current crisis by decriminalizing marijuana. Now they are using the proliferation of illegal weed as the reason to validate the market legalization" Reeves stated. "Democrats tried decriminalizing marijuana for the benefit of those suffering and are reminded why illicit drugs should remain illegal. While I will never vote for cannabis, I will act within my power as a senior legislator to make sure the proposed cannabis bills address our current issues." 

In a press release, Reeves said the majority of non-drug-using Virginians think marijuana is now legal, don't realize they can lose their gun rights for having a medical marijuana card and don’t understand the difference between growing legal plants from illegal seeds.

Medical Marijuana Research 

Reeves’ medical concerns took into account only studies indicating the possible negative effects of cannabis, while not commenting on new research that shows various health benefits. "Our current legislation has created a culture in which cancer patients are smoking cancer-causing carcinogens to treat symptoms of cancer." 

Recent studies, however, show that marijuana significantly improves symptoms for most cancer survivors and another one revealed that cannabis treatment improves cognitive function, and reduces pain and depression among advanced cancer patients. 

In less than two months, the National Cancer Institute has granted $6.4 million towards cannabis and cancer research, which should come as no surprise as many studies have confirmed cannabis’ potential as a treatment for various types of cancer. For example, in March 2022, the Israeli biotech company Cannabotech reported cell model study results showing that its “Integrative-Colon” products killed over 90% of colon cancer cells. The Integrative-Colon products are based on a combination of several cannabinoids from the cannabis plant and various mushroom extracts.

Another study conducted by Hadassah Medical Center physicians and published in December 2021 revealed a sixfold improvement in killing breast cancer cells when using specific Cannabotech's medical cannabis products in combination with standard oncology treatments and drug protocols such as chemotherapy, biological and hormonal, over the existing treatment.

See Also: CBD Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Progression, Say Researchers In New Study

The Republican senator’s comments come after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended the DEA to reclassify cannabis to Schedule III under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III would acknowledge some of its medical values and make it the same type of substance as Tylenol, ketamine, anabolic steroids and testosterone.

Reeves further added that those who push for the recreational cannabis market should consider the extra costs of mental health treatment, hospitalization, drug rehab programs, and law enforcement intervention. 

 His comments come on the heels of a new clinical study showing medical marijuana improves chronic depression symptoms.

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Photo: Courtesy of CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash