Podcast: Marijuana Laws in Va., the Dillon Rule and Blight in Richmond

It’s all about legislative action on this episode of Open Source. In the first segment, host Will Snyder talks with Ed McCann, the executive director of Virginia’s NORML chapter. NORML is a non-profit working to reform marijuana laws. McCann talks about efforts by Delegate David Englin to conduct an economic study to see what revenue could be generated by selling weed in state liquor stores.

After that, Jesse Richardson, an associate professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech, gives listeners an overview of the Dillon Rule and how it effects local governments and regional planning.

Finally we hear from Lane Pearson of the Better Housing Coalition. He talks about the issue of blight in Richmond and potential new tools the city government might have to deal with vacant and tax-delinquent properties.