Bill levying harsh penalties for drug crimes nears passage in WV, advocates say it’s not the answer

Bill levying harsh penalties for drug crimes nears passage in WV, advocates say it’s not the answer

Kenny Matthews, a criminal justice advocate with the American Friends Service Committee, testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee on April 7, 2025, in Charleston, W.Va. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)A bill that drastically increases penalties for certain drug offenses passed the West Virginia House of Delegates on Friday. If signed into law, advocates worry how the new provisions will impact already vulnerable…