State Sen. Aaron Rouse, D–Virginia Beach, gives remarks to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services subcommittee on his bill to create a framework for a retail marijuana market on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at the General Assembly Building in Richmond.
Spokesperson: Gov. Youngkin likely to again veto regulated marketplace.
Democratic state lawmakers won’t let an expected veto stop another push for a retail cannabis market in Virginia next year.
Del. Paul Krizek (D–Fairfax) and Sen. Aaron Rouse (D–Virginia Beach) will revive their legal retail marketplace bills for the 2025 General Assembly session, which begins Jan. 8. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the same legislation during the 2024 session.
Krizek and Rouse brought different proposals to the table earlier this year before compromising on a framework that would have started legal marijuana sales in May with a potential tax rate of 11.625%.
The Democrats expect another veto if the measure passes the Democratic-controlled legislature — which Youngkin’s office confirmed — but say establishing a regulated marijuana market would help address public safety concerns they share with Youngkin.
“Even though it’s highly unlikely the governor will not veto the bill, I don’t think we should give him a free pass, and I think it’s too important for the commonwealth,” Krizek said.
When asked for comment on a possible veto, Youngkin’s press secretary, Christian Martinez, responded via text: “I think you can cite the fact that time and time again he has been very clear on that.”
Under current law, Virginians who are 21 and older can have small amounts of marijuana, buy it from shops with a medical marijuana license and grow up to four plants in their homes.
A Democratic-controlled General Assembly voted to allow the possession of small amounts of cannabis in 2021 — but didn’t set up a legal way for people to buy marijuana without another vote from lawmakers. Democratic then-Gov. Ralph Northam signed the legislation.
Since then, Democrat-led efforts to establish a marketplace have been quashed by Republicans. The latest came in March, when Youngkin vetoed the legislation from Krizek and Rouse.
Youngkin wrote in his veto statement that legalizing retail cannabis sales would endanger the health and safety of Virginians, claiming that states with retail markets have seen adverse effects on children, increased gang activity, violent crime and other issues.
“Attempting to rectify the error of decriminalizing marijuana by establishing a safe and regulated marketplace is an unachievable goal,” Youngkin wrote. “The more prudent approach would be to revisit the issue of discrepancies in enforcement, not compounding the risks and endangering Virginians’ health and safety with greater market availability.”
The governor also challenged arguments that allowing legal marijuana sales would be an effective way to combat illegal sales, ensure product safety and boost Virginia’s tax revenue.
In his veto statement, Youngkin said “the most concerning consequence of cannabis commercialization is its impact on adolescents and our children.” He pointed to a 400% increase in U.S. Poison Control calls since 2016 for children who have overdosed on edible marijuana products.
H/T: ww.vpm.org
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