Cannabis legislation advances in Richmond following compromise

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - The plan to create a retail marketplace for marijuana continues to move forward in the Virginia General Assembly.

Democrats in the House and Senate have agreed on a compromise that would allow sales to start next year. But its future is still uncertain with the possibility of a veto from Governor Glenn Youngkin.

In Virginia, it’s legal to possess small amounts of marijuana, and you may even grow your own, but there’s no way to buy it legally for recreational use.

Under the compromise unveiled this week, the state would begin accepting license applications in September, and authorize sales starting May 1, 2025.

“It’s time to give Virginia’s $3 billion illegal market a run for its money. And it’s time to give Virginians access to a safe, taxed and tested product,” said Del. Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax Co.) during a Senate committee meeting Friday morning.

Krizek and Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) have worked with others to resolve their differences and increase the odds that a marijuana marketplace bill will pass.

“Again, I think it shows what we can do when we all work together and provide a place to come to an agreement,” Rouse said during the meeting.

That the bill continues to move forward is a plus, marijuana advocates say, though the start date is a disappointment for many.

JM Pedini is Development Director of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Executive Director of Virginia NORML.

“There is no industry without consumers, but these consumers are essentially being shown their place at the very end of the line, while business interests are prioritized over theirs,” Pedini told WDBJ7.

Pedini said what happens when the legislation reaches the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Virginia) is the “million dollar question.”

Opponents of legalization say they are confident the governor will use his veto power.

Jordan Davidson is the Government Affairs Manager for the organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

“No matter what the legislature does, we don’t expect that the Governor is going to sign and pass into law what they put forward,” Davidson said in an interview Friday morning, “but regardless, this is a bad plan. It doesn’t protect youth. It doesn’t protect communities.”

Cannabis advocates are undeterred.

Greg Habeeb is a lobbyist for the Virginia Cannabis Association.

“This is a public safety, regulatory bill that regulates an existing market, allows fair access to everybody, creates jobs, generates tax revenue,” Habeeb said. “It’s had broad bipartisan support in the public and we’re excited that we’ve gotten here.”

We could see floor votes next week, and final approval in the House and Senate before March 9.