A push to establish a legal marijuana market in Virginia is officially dead after Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation on Thursday.
Virginia has allowed adults over 21 to possess and cultivate cannabis at home since the Legislature passed legalization legislation in 2021. But the law required another vote to implement commercial sales, which failed after Republicans won the House of Delegates later that year.
“The proposed legalization of retail marijuana in the Commonwealth endangers Virginians’ health and safety,” Youngkin said in his veto statement. “It also does not eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis, nor guarantee product safety.”
Pro-legalization advocates were hopeful that a marijuana regulation bill could make it to the finish line this year after Democrats won back the House of Delegates last November.
While Youngkin has historically opposed efforts to liberalize marijuana laws, the marijuana sales bill was poised to be used as a bargaining chip by Democrats in budget negotiations over one of Youngkin’s top priorities: A $2 billion stadium deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Northern Virginia.
But earlier this month, the final budget enacted by Virginia’s Legislature did not contain funding for the “Glenn Dome,” as Democratic Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair Sen. Louise Lucas dubbed the project.
@LolliesOliviaLibertarian2mos2MO
Just legalize it. How the heck can you say alcohol is totally cool but marijuana is not?
Individuals should be allowed to make their own decisions
@Unit3dNationsMikeVeteran2mos2MO
I don’t smell alcohol 100ft away from a person drinking and getting second hand drunk is impossible. I wouldn’t give a damn is it were gummies, chews, drinks… **** even brownies idc. But I* shouldn’t have to smell YOUR choices. That **** reeks.
@VoterIDAriannaPatriot2mos2MO
Alcohol has enough negative effects. We don't need to double that.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Do you believe legalizing marijuana would have a positive or negative impact on public health and safety in your community?
@9L7HC952mos2MO
Positive. Anywhere it has been legalized has seen a significant drop in crime.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@9L7HX2G2mos2MO
The war on drugs has been going on long enough. Marijuana is nowhere near as dangerous as drugs such as heroin. There should definitely be some rules, (You can't possess any unless your 18,etc) but continuing to criminalize it keeps in place the racist connotations of the war drugs, while only further demonizing drug users, not as people with a problem, but irredeemable rejects of society who should be thrown away.
@PoultryIanMountain2mos2MO
As a Marijauna Supporter for 20 years. He is right about the modifying of the marijuana plant being bred for potency thus causing an imbalance in the plant and increasing psychosis and unwanted effects . It boils down to the strain . And it should be utilized as a sacred plant , not a daily thing .
It smells like pot everywhere here in metro Detroit since it was legalized. It’s making its way into schools. A fifth grader brought some hummus and shared with friends at my kid’s school. Good on Youngkin for not making the same mistake as MI.
@Centr1stOilUnity2mos2MO
Since marijuana was legalized in California I noticed people’s driving becoming more erratic everywhere I go in the state. I have no proof it’s because of cannabis, but I noticed it got even worse during the “pandemic”. I believe marijuana use skyrocketed during lockdown.
@EcstaticPonyRepublican2mos2MO
Canada is proof positive that it is insidious policy. Our ERs demonstrate that unequivocally.
@DrearyPuddingVeteran2mos2MO
They are right. Talk to the schools.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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