New Fairfax Prosecutor Ends Pot Possession Prosecutions: Report

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — On his first day in office, Fairfax County's new comonwealth's attorney said his office will no longer prosecute simple marijuana possession cases against adults. Commonwealth's Attorney Steven Descano campaigned on the issue when he won election to the seat in November.

If someone is arrested on a possession charge, Descano said Thursday, the case file will be reviewed by the commonwealth's attorney's office to determine whether it is a case of simple possession. If it is, prosecutors will move to have the case dismissed at its first hearing. According to WTOP, several such cases were dismissed in court on Thursday.

Descano, who defeated long-time Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh in last June's Democratic primary, said the change would free up resources to be used on more serious crimes, such as crimes with victims and crimes that have an impact on public safety, he said.

Simple possession refers to pot for personal use, Descano told WTOP. The policy does not allow possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute or conspicuous use of marijuana in public.

Descano also said in a statement that such prosecutions disproportionately fall on communities of color and that convictions can prevent people from renting an apartment, getting a job or obtaining a student loan.