ROANOKE, Va. – For the second consecutive year, bills aimed at legalizing cannabis retail sales have passed through both the Virginia House and Senate. Past story: Bill to legalize retail marijuana sales advancing through General Assembly
JM Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, says that legalizing cannabis sales would take marijuana off the streets and place it in a regulated, age-verified environment. “Taking marijuana off the street corners and putting it behind an age-verified counter is a public safety policy, not a partisan issue,” Pedini said.
One local business, Bear Dance Hemp Company in Roanoke, is hopeful the bill will pass. Co-owner Chris Reese sees potential for significant growth if the legislation is enacted. “The bill would mean the opportunity to sell retail marijuana products up to two and a half ounces per person. That kind of income would dramatically change our business. Every year, profits go down and down, and in my opinion, they will continue to do so until we have a fully legally regulated market for adults in the state of Virginia,” Reese said.
However, not all lawmakers are on board with the proposed legislation. Republican Delegate Wendell Walker, a vocal critic of cannabis legalization, believes the bill lacks sufficient enforcement mechanisms. In a recent statement, he said, “If passed, this legislation will bring even more marijuana into Virginia. We know it’s harmful to kids under 21, and we need to be spending our effort keeping it away from them, not expanding its reach. The bill before us again this year doesn’t have enough enforcement, and it would set up stores in areas that have seen a significant amount of marijuana arrests — by design. That’s like putting liquor stores in a place that has a lot of DUIs. I don’t support that, and I don’t think Lynchburg does either.”
Under current Virginia law, residents are allowed to grow and possess marijuana, but there is no legal way to buy or sell it. Similar bills reached Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk in March 2024, but he vetoed them (Gov. Youngkin shares why he vetoed retail marijuana sales bill), citing concerns about crime, mental health, and the difficulty of regulating cannabis sales.
Governor Youngkin remains a vocal opponent of legal cannabis retail sales. In his State of the Commonwealth address, he said in part, “Strong communities also work to prevent harmful drug use. The dangers of marijuana use, particularly among our young people, continue to grow. We know that states with retail markets have seen significant negative impacts on children and adolescent health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with a marijuana retail market that far exceed the perverse benefit of “tax revenue.”
Everyone knows where I stand on establishing a retail marijuana market. Let’s work together on other issues where we can find common ground.”
Despite Governor Youngkin’s opposition, Chris Reese is optimistic that cannabis legalization will eventually gain bipartisan support. “I believe, regardless of party, that when legalization happens, it will truly be a bipartisan effort. I truly believe that our next governor, no matter the party, will sign the next coming bills,” Reese said.
If the measures pass, it would allow the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to begin issuing marijuana licenses in September 2025, but stalls retail sales until May of 2026.
H/T: www.wsls.com
