[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E55-E56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF ROY SCHERER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 18, 2024

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Roy 
Scherer, who passed away on December 8th, at the age of 81.
  Roy was born on February 2, 1942, in Richmond, Virginia. He spent 
most of his childhood attending military schools and then went on to 
spend a few years in the U.S. Air Force after graduation.
  According to his family, Roy's experience at the 1969 Democratic 
Convention in Chicago inspired him to fight injustice wherever he saw 
it. For him, one of those injustices was the penalties for drugs in 
Virginia. Roy formed Virginians for the Study of Marijuana Laws, 
becoming Virginia's first registered marijuana lobbyist.
  In 1977, Roy was arrested for sneaking weed plants into the Virginia 
State Capitol. According to Roy, Delegate Cranwell didn't know what a 
weed plant looked like and wanted to see one, so he brought one in to 
show him. This explanation was apparently true and led him to being let 
off the hook.
  When I was in the House of Delegates, he came to all of the 
Subcommittee on Courts of Justice meetings, advocating for saner drug 
policies and weed legalization.
  There was once a bill introduced which would make the penalties in 
Virginia for crack cocaine and powdered cocaine possession similar to 
those in the federal law. Roy stood up and detailed how powdered 
cocaine was used primarily by white drug users and crack cocaine was 
used primarily by black drug users, and that in the bill the penalty 
for crack was far harsher than for powered cocaine. Knowing the Members 
of the Committee, Roy knew we wouldn't stand for this injustice.

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  Bob McDonald, Dave Albo, and I looked at each other and then looked 
down the dais. Kenny Melvin and others looked back and instantly we 
knew Roy was right; we amended the bill to make the penalties 
equitable.
  Years later, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the 
federal law because the inequitable drug penalties were 
unconstitutional.
  Roy Scherer proved that, at least in Virginia, a well-reasoned 
conscientious citizen could address his government and be heard. We 
will always be indebted to his example.
  Roy was also a big supporter of concealed carry. Being that he had no 
driver's license, Roy would ride his bicycle to the Capitol and keep 
his gun on him as the route he traveled to the Capitol was through an 
unsafe part of town. However, when he wanted to eat in a restaurant 
nearby, he would have to hide his gun in a bush outside of the 
restaurant. This led him to fight for concealed carry in restaurants in 
Virginia.
  Roy is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Sally, his 
sister Barbara, and his brother Frank, as well as many friends. I wish 
them all my deepest condolences for their loss.
  A true Libertarian and a dedicated citizen, Roy made an impact on 
everyone he met, including myself. May his memory be a blessing to all 
who knew him.

                          ____________________