Marijuana; reduces penalties for possession to a fine of not more than $500.

Reduces the penalties for possession of marijuana to a fine of not more than $500 and makes a first offense violation that has been deferred and dismissed under § 18.2-251 eligible for expungement. Under current law, possession of marijuana is punishable by confinement in jail for not more than 30 days and a fine of not more than $500, either or both. The bill provides that any person seeking expungement of such first offense violation shall be assessed a $300 fee, of which $150 shall be paid into the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic Fund, created by the bill, and $150 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Department of State Police. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019, except for the provisions related to the reduction of penalties for possession of marijuana, which shall become effective July 1, 2018. The provisions of the bill are contingent upon funding in a general appropriation act. The bill contains technical amendments.