 Since 2020, Virginia has had a very limited state medical marijuana program. One year later, in 2021, Virginia’s former Governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, signed recreational adult-use into law, however, there is no place in the state to legally buy it.
Legal adult use sales were set to begin next January, 2024, however that was contingent upon the state lawmakers setting up a regulatory framework. But ever since Republicans won control of the state House of Delegates and Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin replaced the past Democratic one, they have been trying to block all efforts to create that regulatory framework, which would mean that sales cannot start. According to insiders, Virginia’s Republican legislatures have a history of trying to to undermine the state's legal marijuana industry. The most recent way they have done this is when the Republican-controlled state General Assembly committee blocked a bill that was structured to set up adult use sales regulations. Without a regulatory framework in place, adult use sales in the state will not be able to begin next January. In addition to blocking that bill, Virginia’s Republican lawmakers have also been trying to cut nearly 70% of the state’s Cannabis Control Authority’s budget. They have presentated a proposed state spending plan which slashes that budget by $13.4 million over two years. The budget is not final and is still subject to some negotiations over the next few days, but if passed, it would drastically damage the state’s current medical marijuana regulatory system. Comments are closed.
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