Virginia lawmakers have passed legislation that if approved by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin would allow recreational retail sales of marijuana in the state. However, a push to establish a legal marijuana market in Virginia is officially dead after Gov. Youngkin vetoed the legislation on Thursday.
While possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults is legal in Virginia, recreational sales are still not permitted. This means that those looking to light up in Virginia still don't have a place to buy their supply within the state. Although recreational marijuana is now legal in Virginia, retail sales have not yet been approved.
Virginia became the first state in the southern U.S. to legal possession of marijuana, but recreational sales have not been legal. Since medical cannabis was first legal in Colorado in 1996, nearly half the country has legal marijuana for recreational use.
In 2017, lawmakers in Virginia created a state medical marijuana program, marking a significant shift in the state's stance on cannabis. Prior to this, all marijuana sales, possession, and use were illegal in the state.
It is legal to possess a small amount of marijuana in Virginia if you are 21 years old or older, but it is still illegal to buy or sell marijuana in the state. This has created a gray area for residents who are looking to legal obtain marijuana for recreational use.
The veto by Gov. Youngkin has disappointed many advocates for recreational marijuana sales in Virginia, who were hopeful that the legislation would pass. However, the governor's decision to veto the bill has effectively halted the progress towards establishing a legal marijuana market in the state.
Despite the setback, advocates for legal marijuana sales in Virginia are determined to continue their efforts to push for recreational sales in the state. They believe that the economic and social benefits of legal marijuana sales outweigh any potential risks.
Overall, the status of cannabis legal in Virginia remains in a state of flux, with possession being legal but sales still prohibited. As more states across the country move towards legal recreational marijuana, it remains to be seen when Virginia will fully embrace the legal sale of cannabis.
