Only Two Virginia Republican Lawmakers Voted To Legalize Marijuana Sales As GOP Governor Threatens Veto
“It’s nice that this invoice is getting Republican votes, however the one which issues is the governor, and but he’s unwilling to acknowledge that it’s 2025 and never 1975.”
By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury
Virginia’s legislature has as soon as once more permitted laws to create a regulated and taxed hashish market, and with each chambers backing an identical measures, the proposal is all however sure to achieve Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) desk as soon as the Basic Meeting adjourns later this month.
By the session’s midpoint Tuesday, each chambers had handed an identical measures to legalize retail gross sales of marijuana for adults 21 and older.
Home Invoice 2485, sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, cleared the Home within the afternoon with restricted bipartisan assist, whereas Senate Invoice 970, carried by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Seashore, handed Friday on a strict 21-19 party-line vote.
Del. Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, an area prosecutor, and Del. Will Morefield, R-Tazewell, have been the 2 lone Republicans to again the Home measure.
“I’ve been constant in my assist for a authorized and controlled grownup marketplace for hashish in Virginia,” stated Obenshain, who voted for the same proposal final 12 months. “The established order is complicated for people and companies, and the dearth of regulation or enforcement is harmful for everybody concerned,” he stated.
Regardless of rising public and legislative assist for a authorized market, Youngkin has signaled he stays firmly opposed, citing issues over crime, psychological well being, and regulatory challenges. His administration has repeatedly dismissed the push to increase authorized hashish in Virginia, making a veto all however sure.
“It’s nice that this invoice is getting Republican votes, however the one which issues is the governor, and but he’s unwilling to acknowledge that it’s 2025 and never 1975, and it’s time to work throughout the aisle collectively to control retail hashish gross sales to adults,” Krizek stated Tuesday.
“Failure to take action solely entrenches an unsafe, usually harmful illicit market. That is each a client safety concern and a public well being one. A safer various will make for safer communities.”
Advocates nonetheless stay hopeful that the governor will change his thoughts within the coming weeks.
“Marijuana Justice and our CannaJustice Coalition is impressed to see leaders of each the Virginia Home and Senate decide to the exhausting work put in final session,” stated Chelsea Higgs Sensible, govt director of Marijuana Justice. “Each payments prioritize examined merchandise and exhibit the necessity for an equitable regulated market as a part of public well being and security.”
The struggle for hashish legalization in Virginia has been years within the making, marked by political shifts, authorized grey areas, and ongoing battles over how—and whether or not—to determine a retail market.
In 2021, Virginia made historical past as the primary Southern state to legalize small-scale marijuana possession and residential cultivation for adults 21 and older. Underneath the legislation, residents can develop as much as 4 vegetation at residence and possess as much as one ounce of marijuana in public.
However whereas legalization handed below Democratic management, lawmakers by no means finalized a plan to control gross sales earlier than Republicans took management of the governor’s mansion and briefly the Home of Delegates in 2022.
That left Virginia in an uncommon state of affairs: Hashish is authorized to own and develop, however there is no such thing as a authorized method to purchase or promote it exterior the state’s medical marijuana program. With no retail framework, the underground market has flourished, with unregulated pop-up outlets and on-line “gifting” companies working in authorized limbo.
A 2024 Roanoke Faculty ballot discovered that 63 % of Virginians assist insurance policies that assist small hashish companies compete with pharmaceutical corporations and medical dispensaries, whereas solely 15 % oppose them.
Democrats and hashish advocates proceed to push for a licensed, regulated market to handle this hole, arguing that clear guidelines would defend customers, generate tax income, and forestall unlawful gross sales. The payments handed this 12 months search to just do that by making a state-regulated system of licensed retailers and producers, just like these in different states with authorized hashish markets.
However Youngkin’s workplace reiterated in December that his stance has not modified, setting the stage for one more veto, which Democrats haven’t sufficient votes to override. If that occurs, the struggle over Virginia’s hashish market might have to attend for the state’s subsequent governor.
Regardless of Youngkin’s hardline stance, Obenshain cited the necessity to act sooner somewhat than later.
“Whereas I wish to see stronger public security measures, comparable to my proposal to restrict driving below the affect of marijuana, I’ve supported this effort as a result of I feel it’s crucial that we act now,” Obenshain stated. “My vote is a sign that I’ll proceed to have good religion conversations with people on all sides of this difficulty to try to attain a compromise that works for Virginia.”
This story was first published by Virginia Mercury.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Wallis // Facet Pocket Photographs.
