Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin Has No Interest in Greenlighting State’s Marijuana Market

In the recent legislative session, Virginia lawmakers made significant strides in the direction of establishing a regulated retail market for marijuana sales. The bill, which is now awaiting the signature of Governor Glenn Youngkin, has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the Virginia Cannabis Association and the nonprofit group Marijuana Justice.

The proposed legislation sets May 1, 2025, as the start date for recreational marijuana sales and would allow the state to begin accepting dispensary applications as early as September 2024. The new retail market would be overseen by the Cannabis Control Authority, an agency that currently regulates Virginia's medical marijuana program and focuses on public awareness campaigns about marijuana and its effects.

One of the key aspects of the bill is its focus on race-neutral "micro business" provisions aimed at helping "historically economically disadvantaged communities" see financial benefits from marijuana legalization. This approach has been lauded by advocates as a way to address the disproportionate impact of criminalization and the war on drugs on Black communities.

In addition to the retail sales bill, the General Assembly has passed separate legislation that would give nearly 800 people incarcerated for marijuana-related felonies an opportunity to have their sentences reduced, and more than 1,200 people on probation or parole for marijuana offenses a chance to reduce the length of their post-release supervision. This effort to rectify past harms has been a central focus of the Marijuana Justice organization.

The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Sen. Louise Lucas, a Democrat who has been Governor Youngkin's chief antagonist on the arena proposal. The House version of the bill was sent to the governor on a seven-day timeline, meaning he has until midnight on Friday to act on it.

Despite the support for the bill, Governor Youngkin has indicated that he has "no interest" in greenlighting a retail marijuana market during his four-year term. This stance has led to concerns that the bill may not be signed into law and that the issue will be left to the next administration.