Marijuana, or “weed,” comes from the cannabis plant and contains a psychoactive compound called THC, which gives users the euphoric “high” feeling when ingesting or smoking it. Today, marijuana is currently illegal on a federal level. However, in recent years, the subject of legalizing it all together has become a hot topic of conversation within the congress chambers.

Many states across the United States have legalized the drug with certain limitations on usage. As marijuana legalization continues to occur in more states in the US, it seems that congress may choose to either legalize or decriminalize it in the future. Legalization of this drug seems to be widely supported among the democratic party and is becoming increasingly popular among some republicans as well.

Why or Why Not Legalize Marijuana?

While some believe that marijuana has a horrible image, connected to drug abuse and trafficking, others believe that legalizing the drug could prove to do more good than harm. Proponents of marijuana legalization argue that marijuana is not nearly as bad as alcohol and does not cause people to abuse it, as it is not considered an addictive drug. Also, these proponents argue that marijuana can have serious physical and mental benefits, such as stress and anxiety relief, physical pain relief, as well as sleep assistance.

One of the most important reasons why many believe that marijuana legalization could significantly reduce mass incarceration as these laws disproportionately affect people of color and those in lower income communities. Opposition to widespread legalization centers around a fear of health and safety risks.

What States Have Legalized Marijuana?

As states and territories across the United States continue to make efforts to legalize marijuana, seventeen U.S. states, territories, or districts have already legalized the drug. As marijuana is still federally banned, the country has implemented the Cole memorandum for states to have separation of powers. Under this clause, states have the authority to implement their own marijuana provisions, while the drug is still federally banned. The one provision that all state laws must share is that a person must be over the age of 21 to buy, sell, or legally possess marijuana. The following states have legalized marijuana:

• Colorado
• Washington
• Alaska
• Oregon
• Washington, D.C.
• California
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• Michigan
• Vermont
• Guam
• Illinois
• Arizona
• Montana
• New Jersey
• South Dakota

While the amount of legal possession differs in each state, most states keep the maximum one ounce. Michigan, Maine and Washington D.C., on the other hand have  larger maximums. Michigan for example, allows citizens to possess a maximum of 2.5 ounces of marijuana. Other provisions that differ are the amount an individual can grow, use in products, as well as retail and excise taxes.

Decriminalization Vs Legalization

Some states have taken a different approach to the marijuana debate by decriminalizing it while still making it legal to use, possess, or sell. In addition to the seventeen states that have legalized marijuana, 26 states have decriminalized it.

Decriminalization is the act of decreasing the consequences or penalties of a certain criminal act, or reclassifying a criminal act based on the reduction of these penalties. In most of these states jail time has been removed or at least limited, especially for first time offenders. Most states have also lowered the fine amounts for the possession of marijuana. Moreover, many states have classified the penalties of possession, or buying/selling of marijuana as a civil offense rather than a criminal one.

“New York has decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana; however, this does not mean possession is legal,” says New York criminal attorney Jeffrey Lichtman. “Instead, it means those in possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana will not face criminal penalties unless they have prior offenses on their record.”

With growing support across the country for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, the next step may be implementing these law changes on the federal level.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

What a year 2020 has been — highs and lows for everyone — but our community has a need for support for those struggling to pay rent and buy food.

I often see posts about ways to help and, especially at the outset of the holidays, now is a good time to explore some options on where to put your resources should you have any to give. We have A LOT of great organizations around to help, so depending on what speaks to you, I’m offering some options below (which also looks different than in years past). 

One thing I might offer: If you’re looking for a more direct impact in your own community, call your local school and ask if any of the families need help. The front office staff should be able to find out what families are in need at this time. 

If you’re looking for a larger organization to support, check out these options:

Britepaths

In a non-pandemic year, Britepaths offers the option of adopting a family at Thanksgiving where you can bring them food to cook a Thanksgiving meal themselves. However, due to COVID-19, they can’t facilitate the direct delivery of food this year. Therefore, Britepaths is looking for gift card donations for families to go shop for food themselves. Learn more here.

Food For Others

Food For Others distributes food to more than 2,600 local families in need each week. They collect food throughout the year, but especially around Thanksgiving, they need items like cranberry sauce, stuffing, green beans, pie filling, gravy and canned sweet potatoes. Find out more here.

Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters (BRAWS) (Vienna)

BRAWS was started by a Vienna local, Holly Seibold, to help bring menstrual supplies, underwear and bras to local women and girls in need in the area. They work with school districts, shelters, food pantries and other community organizations. To learn how you can donate supplies and/or funds learn more here.

The Lamb Center

The Lamb Center is a day-time drop-in homeless shelter where individuals can eat, take a shower, do laundry, get housing and job counseling, see a nurse or a dentist, and more — for free. They are accepting donations of cleaning supplies, travel hygiene items, clothing and juice. Get more information here.

Additionally, Vienna’s own Social Burger provides a weekly meal to the Lamb Center, which you can also sponsor. 

SHARE of McLean 

SHARE has a Holiday Celebration, which is their biggest event of the year. They need volunteers as well as donations. You can also sign up to host a food drive to help stock their pantry, which they use to give food and gift cards to families in need. They have in-person volunteer hours, which may involve moving furniture, sorting clothing or restocking the shelves. If you want a more hands-on interaction, you can also greet and register the clients.

Women Giving Back (WGB) (Sterling)

WGB is an organization that supports women and children with the basics to get back on their feet. Please check their site to see what items they need. You can drop them off locally at First Excel Title just outside of Oakton at 3201 Jermantown Road Suite 350 in Fairfax. The store throughout the rest of the year needs clothing, accessories, shoes and kids clothes. Learn more here.

Like much of its history, Maryland’s Purple Line light-rail project has hit another snag in its development.

Recently, the construction’s contractor group terminated its deal with the state due to over $800 million in unpaid cost overruns. This means Maryland will need to completely pause its work on the light-rail project connecting Maryland communities from Bethesda to New Carrollton for the time being.

After a lengthy legal battle, the state will shift its efforts into finding contractors and figure out how to balance transportation budget restrictions over the next six months. Unfortunately, this delay means that Marylanders won’t be riding on the purple line until 2024, at the earliest.

Given the numerous setbacks and the implications for Maryland taxpayers and Metro riders alike, here is an overview of recent Purple line developments.

The Litigation

Back in September, Purple Line Transit Partners, the group building the project, sued the state for breach of contract, seeking more than $100 million. The contractors sought to obtain compensation for the state’s requirements to hide subsequent delays within public project schedules and refusal to pay for delays.

That lawsuit served as a counterclaim against the Maryland Transit Administration, which was filed for more than $75 million in damages for the contractors’ “illegal notice” in leaving the project undone. The state cited $800 million in unpaid cost overruns and more than 2 ½ years of construction delays in its rationale.

Ultimately, the judge’s decision came down to whether or not the contractors may terminate the contract due to extended delays. With enough evidence that the state efforts inhibited their ability to continue the project efficiently, a judge allowed the contractors to terminate the contract.

New Agreement

Recently, the Board of Public Works in Maryland approved a new $250 million legal deal to reactivate the project within nine months. The state claims the plan is about 40 percent complete and refinancing will only take about three months before construction can resume. Still, actual work on the project may not resume until a new contractor is brought on board, which is expected to take around six months within a larger one year frame.

Under the payment agreement, Maryland will pay the first $100 million of the settlement before 2021. Soon thereafter, the remaining $150 million will be paid within 12 months, depending on when the state formally replaces the contractors.

A Legal Perspective

To help sort through this complicated litigation process, Attorney Seth Price helps explain the factors at play.

“The settlement came about because of disagreements over construction scheduling and funds,” says Attorney Seth Price. “For the contractors, there was a certain expectation that the state would allow progress and pay for delays when such disruptions were inevitable. With a breach in that expectation, the contractors were able to bring a breach of contract lawsuit against the state.”

What’s Next for the Purple Line?

Right now, the Purple Line’s progress is at a standstill with crews securing the work areas for safety. Eventually, the state will find a new set of contractors and begin development once again.

With these delays and funding concerns, however, there is no set due date for the Purple Line’s completion. Some estimates suggest late 2024, but with a project so disrupted and unreliable as the Purple Line, Marylanders know there are no guarantees.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact every aspect of modern-day life, from the way consumers buy their groceries to how employees connect to corporate systems. Learning is no exception.

Since the outbreak, online learning has become more central to people’s lives. And many plan to continue the trend: More than half of American adults who expect to need more education or training post-pandemic say they would do it online, according to an August 2020 survey by the Strada Education Network.

Yet not all online education is created equal — and IT pros looking to invest in a program should compare and contrast options carefully.

Whether pursuing a full-time master’s degree to deepen IT expertise or seeking a certificate to boost content knowledge in a specific area, there are many reasons why Virginia Tech’s 100% online Master of Information Technology program (VT-MIT) is a superior choice for IT leaders.

The U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs report ranks Virginia Tech’s MIT degree the nation’s fourth best. The program blends coursework and offers twelve areas of specialized study for a diverse education.

Courses are taught by world-class faculty experienced in translating a robust academic experience to an effective online format. For nearly 20 years, the VT-MIT program has relied on a two-tiered system of master faculty and distance learning instructors who together deliver a superior online classroom experience that encourages peer-to-peer support, faculty-to-student mentoring and real-time engagement, making VT-MIT a leader in the online education space long before COVID-19 forced other programs to go virtual.

Students can also expect to reap these advantages:

• Increased Flexibility — Students can choose their own timeline and toggle between full- and part-time schedules, depending on employment status and current workload.
• Greater Convenience –– A combination of synchronous and asynchronous online classes allows students to learn anywhere, anytime — ideal for remote workers unsure of when they may return to the office.
• Enhanced Value — Students can earn a VT-MIT degree at a universal tuition rate (no residency required) from a well-respected public institution.

Today’s IT professionals must act fast to keep pace with a rapidly evolving IT environment. Experience and specialized IT skills are critical to making the right technology decisions, at the right time. With the flexibility of an online VT-MIT degree or graduate certificate, IT leaders can strike the perfect balance: earn a respected credential that will help them confront the technological challenges of the 21st century while accommodating new realities.

As the COVID-19 pandemic extends, many professionals are taking this time to prepare for the future by investing in graduate education. And there might not be a better time to do so.

Whether it’s the increased flexibility in classroom formats, frozen tuition rates, relaxed admission requirements, or reduced interest rates on student loans, there are plenty of reasons why students feel like this time period is a unique opportunity for them to build the skills and professional network they need to advance their career.

While fall classes have already started, there are still options for individuals who want to take advantage of graduate study opportunities before next year’s back-to-school season. Virginia Tech’s local Evening MBA program offers a spring entry term with classes starting January 19.

The Evening MBA is a top 20 nationally ranked program designed with maximum flexibility for working professionals.

Students choose their own course load each semester, so those dealing with job uncertainty or working parents with new childcare demands can find the right workload for them and even easily switch between full- and part-time status.

While classes typically take place in-person on weekday evenings at Virginia Tech’s conveniently located Falls Church center, the current environment shifted instruction mode to primarily online, with some classes still offering an in-person option.

The flexible program format contributed to what associate director of MBA recruiting Rebecca McGill described as a “significant increase in applications and enrollments for the fall term.” She added that many also chose this time to apply because they can “take advantage of relaxed GMAT/GRE test score requirements that have never been offered before.”

For spring applicants, the Evening MBA reduced the number of years of work experience required for a test score waiver from ten years to five.

McGill expects the increased application trend to continue for the spring term “as more and more individuals use this time to invest in themselves and their future.”

Applications for the spring semester are due December 1. Learn more at evening.mba.vt.edu.

The curve where the Beltway merges with I-270 is famously known for accidents. Between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 there have been 36 accidents in the stretch of the outer loop, specifically at the big curve where I-270 and the beltway merge. In 28 of those 36 commercial vehicle accidents the drivers were charged with at least one traffic violation.

Types of Accidents

The accidents that happen at this junction are primarily trucking accidents that can be catastrophic for anyone involved and bring the road to a standstill. Types of accidents that police have reported include jack-knifed tractor-trailers, roll-overs and trailers that have broken loose. A few of these crashes have involved cars that have hit these trucks navigating the curve, or a car that was traveling in the blind spot of a tractor trailer when changing lanes and merging.

State Police

Maryland State Police know this “big curve” frequently has accidents as a result of traffic infractions and regularly patrol the area. Maryland State Police has reported that they are sending more officers to patrol that stretch looking for drivers that are speeding or driving recklessly. Over 1,200 tickets have been written for this Beltway and I-270 area, and State Police have reportedly conducted 272 commercial vehicle inspections and have given out over $23,000 in fines to drivers. However, these efforts of ticketing drivers and enforcing good driving behavior are not working as well as they should.

Preventing These Crashes

While Maryland State Police are working hard to catch drivers who are speeding and ticketing those who are committing traffic violations, it is currently not enough. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) in conjunction with Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) are working to alert truck drivers to the upcoming curve. MDSHA has put up electronic signs to try and give these drivers early warnings to slow down and that a curve is approaching.

Despite there being 36 commercial vehicle accidents along the “big curve” there has not been a single fatality. While this should be good news it leaves MDOT and MDSHA nervous that if they cannot figure out how to stop the crashes at the curve there will soon be a fatality. No one has been able to figure out how to stop the crashes, it seems that no matter how much signage is used, collisions are still happening. The victims of these crashes have been incredibly lucky thus far, but the concern is that the first fatality could happen sooner rather than later if adequate prevention methods are not put into place.

Crash Causes

When large trucks follow a curved path, they have centrifugal force pulling the truck to lean away from the curve which in turn can cause a truck to overturn and rollover. When a truck is driving too quickly the likelihood of a crash happening increases exponentially as speed plays a major role in these collisions. That is why MDOT and MDSHA are trying to caution drivers early to the upcoming curve so they have adequate time to slow down. In addition, distracted drivers and faulty equipment also plays a role in these crashes.

Highway officials believe that some truckers feel they can safely speed since there are fewer drivers on the road due to the pandemic. However, drivers should follow the mandated speed of 50 miles per hour when navigating this particular junction and curve, or even drive slower if the conditions are precarious. When trucks and other vehicles drive faster they risk losing control of their vehicle.

Navigating Curves

The single best thing a driver can do when driving on a curved road, or going around a curve is to take measures to drive slowly to decrease the likelihood of a rollover. Drivers should also turn as little as possible, and while that sounds redundant, turning too much around a curve could cause an accident with another vehicle or cause a rollover accident. Trucks do not drive through curves as a normal car would, they are larger and have a much higher center of gravity making them more dangerous.

If drivers try to turn too much and too quickly that could disturb the vehicle equilibrium and cause an accident. Drivers should focus on following the laws of the road and paying attention to signage while operating their vehicle.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

The wind and rain yesterday had me checking my drains and downspouts, but I know not everyone has a fall “to do” list for prepping their home for the winter.

I hope you’ll take into consideration some of these suggestions to get your house ready for the colder months. I’m including some of my favorite vendors below, but if you want my full list of go to people, you can download it for free here.

• Clean your gutters! You may need to do this a few times depending on how many trees are around your home, but make sure you check that the gutters stay empty to allow rain/snow somewhere to go! My go to: Maple Leaf and Gutterman Services.
• Check your drains, especially if you have basement stairs — the easiest way to prevent water in your basement is to keep the drains free and clear of debris! You can do this yourself. Also check gutter downspouts that they’re not blocked by leaves or other debris.
• Have your chimney checked and cleaned. You want to have it checked for cracks to make sure the smoke doesn’t blow back into your house. I use Chimney Doctor (they give a 10% off coupon if you say a realtor referred you). If you have gas fireplace and need help, call Mike at Nova Green Energy.
• Get rid of the leaves! Town of Vienna has leaf collection, but in case you miss your day, or just want to bag up the leaves and dispose of them, my go to is Victor’s Lawn Services (703-593-7776) or [email protected].
• Having any issues with your appliances? Call Vienna local Master Appliance Service.
• Winterize your hose bibs! When our temp drops below freezing, your water lines to the outdoor can freeze and then burst. Find the shut off valves and turn them off, then turn on the hose bibs outside to let all of the water drain out. Leave it like that until the weather warms up again next spring. If you know where your shut offs are, this is easy to do yourself. If you need help and need a plumber, try Hicks Plumbing, Don’t forget to bring hoses inside.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors! Make sure there are new batteries installed and if the device is more than 10 years old, replace it!
• Have your HVAC serviced. This should be done twice a year, but you don’t want to run into an unexpected issue. I use Mannix Heating and Cooling.
• If you’ve just moved or just bought a home, go buy a shovel now! You can get them at McLean Hardware.
• Holiday Décor! One of my neighbors already has their white holiday lights up and it brought so much joy just seeing them! If you’re looking to have holiday lights installed, many landscaping companies will do it. You can also try Shack Shine, Wheat’s, or Christmas Illuminations.

Bonus Tip: Have a long list of general to-do items you want repaired? Change out some lights, touch up painting, or change some tile? My handyman can do it all: C&M Handyman.

With the heightened emphasis on continuous sanitation and comprehensive disinfecting of residential and work environments, it’s remarkable to find a professional cleaning company that is managing to save clients an average of 10 percent on cleaning costs.

Northern Virginia commercial and residential cleaning specialists WellNest Professional Cleaning has developed data-driven, evidence-based methods that allows them to clean when and where it is most efficient, and in doing so, has discovered cost-effectiveness that remains within budgetary restraints.

In other words, WellNest Professional Cleaning is working smarter, not harder. Here’s how:

The vetted, trained and dedicated “certified infection prevention” crew members of WellNest reallocate the frequency of cleaning from low-traffic areas to high-traffic areas by assessing building usage, density, traffic patterns, construction materials and ventilation systems. Applying the results of these studies, cleaners address areas of more frequent need with modern technologies, including electrostatic sprayers, autonomous vacuums, an autonomous floor scrubbers.

The combination of strategic emphasis and technological advancement is, indeed, working smarter, not harder. And each assessment is customized based on the client’s particular needs.

This innovative approach to cleaning has proven successful for WellNest since its inception in 2016, advancing the company to today’s status of 40 full-time employees — each trained by a janitorial industry veteran of 20-plus years — and helping thousands of commercial and residential clients throughout the region. Clients include office buildings, residential apartment buildings, banks, law offices, churches, private schools, fitness facilities, art studios, day-care facilities and, of course, home residences.

WellNest considers itself a strategic partner with its clients, emphasizing two-way communication, trust and transparency. During the pandemic, sanitation and disinfecting the work and home environment is more crucial than ever — it only makes sense to do it the smart way while remaining within or below budget.

Book a commercial client consultation or book a residential or move-in/move-out cleaning. Contact WellNest at [email protected] or call 800-791-2878.

Your child is invited to an online Halloween Math Escape Room on Friday, October 30 at 4 p.m.

The Russian School of Mathematics has created this online event where kids will solve mystery brainteasers, spooky riddles and eerie puzzles to find out the way to escape from our chilling adventure.

Join us dressed in your favorite costume and invite your friends to get into the holiday spirit together.

Register now for the October 30 event!

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

One day, someday, we will all get back to “normal” schedules again.

As you plan ahead for child care needs for “school aged children” which usually means elementary school, a lot of people don’t know that some of the schools don’t have a SACC program in the building. If you have younger kids, keep in mind the dates for registration as you should get on the wait list a year before your child actually starts Kindergarten.

The day assigned for you to call is based on the alphabet. Check the website for details. Also one thing to note is that not all of the schools start at the same time. For example, the “tardy” bell at Vienna Elementary is 8:45 a.m. while the Louise Archer “tardy” bell isn’t until 9:15 a.m. You can register for before care and/or after care based on your needs.

My company made this handy chart for reference when exploring schools around town: