Firm Lawyer Cournoyer Featured on NORML Panel on Marijuana Legalization

Leading up to legalization of marijuana in Virginia, Virginia NORML hosted a panel discussion in Virginia Beach to educate and have a conversation with the community about new policies taking effect July 1, 2021. Panelists provided in-depth insights on what can be expected so Virginians can avoid misinterpretation of the laws. Virginia is officially the first Southern state to legalize marijuana.

Kelly Cournoyer, Esq., of Toscano Law Group took part in the panel alongside Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of the Virginia chapter of NORML, and Stephanie Morales, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Portsmouth, Va. NORML stands for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an organization that acts as the public voice in advocating for cannabis legalization within public policy.

“I want to make sure the public does not find themselves getting into trouble based on some of the indirect discrepancies in the new laws,” said Cournoyer.

As a former New York prosecutor, Cournoyer had wide discretion to decline to prosecute the majority of marijuana cases presented to her. Today, as an attorney in Virginia, she now practices criminal defense, including marijuana and cannabis law at Toscano Law Group and serves on the NORML Legal Committee, which aims to defend individuals with marijuana charges.

Here are some key takeaways from the panel discussion on Virginia’s July 1, 2021 change in marijuana law:

• Adults who are 21 years of age and up may have up to one ounce of marijuana on their person in a public place
• It is still illegal to buy marijuana, sell marijuana, and smoke marijuana in public in Virginia
• You cannot buy merchandise with the incentive of receiving marijuana in contemporaneously
• Marijuana seeds and plants cannot be sold
• Adults 21 and over can grow up to four plants at their main residence
• Roadside sobriety tests may be given to evaluate marijuana impairment
• The odor of marijuana alone is not grounds for a law enforcement officer to obtain a search warrant

Cournoyer's participation is part of the law firm's effort to "Clear the Smoke" on the confusing new laws. On June 30th at 7 PM - the night before the laws go into effect -Cournoyer will join fellow attorney Diane Toscano and incoming Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi for an online town hall live at Facebook.com/ToscanoLawGroup. Members of the public can ask the panelists questions to answer.