Va. Forensic Labs to Stop Processing Misdemeanor Marijuana Evidence

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science will no longer process marijuana in its labs for evidence in misdemeanor cases, The Associated Press reports.

Officials say the move is intended to limit the number of backlogged drug cases. Starting Jan. 1, the department will no longer include marijuana tests in its routine analyses for simple possession cases without a court order.

Instead, law enforcement officers will be able to disclose their field test results during court testimonies, according to state forensics director Linda Jackson. The change in policy will result in “more efficient and effective operations” by allowing the agency to reduce the amount of overtime, Jackson said in a news release.

Since 2010, the average turnaround time in controlled substances cases has nearly quadrupled from 19 to 70 days. The backlog of controlled substances cases at state forensics laboratories has similarly quadrupled since Sept. 2010. The department has completed roughly 30,000 of over 32,000 controlled substances cases this year as of Sept. 30.