Virginia legislators pass Recreational Sales Bill

Virginia lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday that would allow recreational marijuana sales to begin later this year, a significant change from the original start date.

According to local television station WTKR, the law passed by a 23-16 vote in the Virginia Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority.

If made law, the measure would allow recreational pot sales to begin on April 15.

“This ensures that consumers can legally buy safe, regulated products,” said Adam Ebbin, the bill’s sponsor, Democratic state senator, as quoted by Virginia Mercury.

Ebbin told local broadcaster WRIC that his bill “will require those looking to get an early selling advantage to set up smaller companies and those looking to get into the market”.

Advocates probably shouldn’t start celebrating just yet, though.

Outside of this chamber, the bill’s prospects may not be so promising. Republicans control the House of Representatives, and unlike last year when then-Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation making Virginia the first Southern state to legalize recreational cannabis, the GOP now has one of its own at the governor’s mansion in Glenn Youngkin. who was elected in November and took office last month.

WTKR reported that three Republican senators voted in favor of the bill, which passed the chamber on Tuesday, but others in the party have complained about the 400-page legislation.

“It’s a bunch of crap. It’s still a mess. It’s still a mess, and we’re being hit by a 400-page replacement at 1:30 a.m. today,” Republican Senator Mark Peake said, as quoted by the station.

GOP lawmakers in Virginia have drafted their own bills aimed at providing structure to the nascent cannabis program.

The Associated Press reported late last month that local Republicans were “drafting legislation that would bring forward the start date for retail sales and eliminate a provision that would prioritize licensing for those convicted of marijuana crimes,” including “at at least eight bills calling for changes to the law that legalizes adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and laid the groundwork for retail sales to begin in 2024.”

Ebbin’s bill now heads to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where GOP spokesman Todd Gilbert has expressed concerns about lax regulations.

“The overriding concern at the top level is that we need to have a regulatory structure for retail sales that does not encourage the black market,” a Gilbert spokesman told the Associated Press last month.

Northam, which was in place after last year, signed the law into law last spring, establishing the Cannabis Control Authority as the regulatory arm of the new adult marijuana program.

The agency has previously said that recreational cannabis sales won’t begin until 2024.

For his part, Youngkin has said he will not “try to repeal the personal possession law,” but he too has expressed concerns about the regulatory structure of marijuana sales.

“When it comes to commercialization, I think there is still a lot to do. I’m not opposed to it, but there’s still work to be done,” Youngkin said in a pre-inauguration interview with Virginia Business.

“There are some non-starters, including the forced unionization that is in the current bill. Law enforcement agencies have raised concerns about how the loophole in the laws will actually be enforced. Finally, it is imperative to ensure that we are not promoting an anti-competitive industry. I understand there are preferences to ensure all participants in the industry are qualified to do the industry well.”