Virginia Republican Governor. Glenn Youngkin, Virginia Republican Gov.
House Bill 24,85 was a measure that the state legislature approved last month. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority was to be created as a new agency in the state.
Virginia approved adult recreational marijuana consumption and possession in 2021. In the original legalization bill the legislator included “reenactment clauses” which required that in a later legislative session, and with the governor’s approval, a state-legalized marijuana production and sale would be approved statewide.
Youngkin was elected to office in November 2022 and has been a staunch opponent of establishing a recreational marijuana market. In the past, the governor said he believed that doing so only made Virginia “less safer.” He reiterated his belief on Tuesday when he issued a general statement regarding the 157 bills which he has vetoed in this year.
State Del. Paul Krizek (who sponsored HB2485) said in a press release that the veto will allow “an illicit cannabis market, which is already thriving, to persist and fuel criminal activity, endangering local communities.”
Virginia NORML also criticized the decision, saying that it shows how out-of-touch Youngkin is with state voters, as 60% support recreational marijuana legalization.
“Once again, Gov. Youngkin’s personal political agenda has been put above the safety of Virginians, and he chose to let unregulated marijuana operators control Virginia’s market.
This commonsense law would have removed marijuana from corner shops and smoke shops, and only allowed those 21 years and older to access it in licensed dispensaries. Pedini added that the vetoes instead put in danger the health and well-being of adults as well children, while protecting only the illegal marijuana market which has grown exponentially during Pedini’s time in office.
Pedini noted also that Youngkin had returned to the Legislature a medical marijuana legislation with amendments which, Pedini said, “would greatly diminish patient access, by restricting severely the direct delivery of medical cannabis to patients.”
In the last few years, the decision of the governor had major business implications. Industry insiders said that the illicit marijuana and intoxicating hemp markets flourished because there were no licensed sales of recreational cannabis for adults. Youngkin has been targeting the hemp industry as well, because he has always taken an anti-cannabis stand.
Since more than a decade, lawmakers have been saying that the legalization of marijuana in dispensaries is unlikely to happen until at least 2027 after Youngkin has left office.