Although Virginia has legalised adult use cannabis possession and cultivation, it has not yet legalised adult-use cannabis sales. Now, the likelihood that it will any time soon is diminishing.
Governor Glenn Youngkin’s has announced that he is “not interested” in legalising cannabis sales for adult use in the state according to local media reports.
In April 2021, Governor of Virginia at the time, Ralph Northam, signed legislation that saw the legalisation of home cultivation and possession of cannabis. However, although the bill set out provisions to enable a legal adult use cannabis sales from 2024, further action on licensing was needed from lawmakers to enable the sales.
In February this year, Virginia lawmakers blocked the bill and, since Youngkin came into office, an estimated 70% of the Cannabis Control Authority’s budget has been cut.
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Speaking at a Virginia Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council meeting, Joseph Guthrie, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said: “Governor Youngkin has stated that he is not interested in any further moves towards legalisation of adult recreational use marijuana. So I wouldn’t expect that during his administration.”
According to local media, The Daily Progress, Sen. Adam Ebbin, a Northern Virginia Democrat, said: “I don’t expect Governor Youngkin to sign a reasonable adult-use regulatory bill, which is a shame, because adults deserve the ability to have a tested, safe product.
“The governor ought to want to keep these things out of the hands of minors by allowing for adult sales that are carefully and safely regulated. And the governor should want to collect the taxes due on adult use of cannabis, rather than proliferate a black market.”
