As recreational marijuana increasingly becomes legal in states across the country, local prosecutors in states where it's still illegal are making the decision not to prosecute cases involving a minimal amount of the drug. Here in Virginia, Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney announced in January that his office would stop prosecuting misdemeanor cases.
Now Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales is following suit. This month, her office began dismissing all pending cases. Defendants will still have to pay court costs, but they won't be prosecuted. With the support of local judges, Portsmouth prosecutors have begun dismissing all such pending cases. Defendants, however, will still have to pay court costs of about $165 each.
