A budtender (right) shows cannabis buds to a customer at the Green Pearl Organics dispensary on the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales in California, January 1, 2018 at the Green Pearl Organics marijuana dispensary in Desert Hot Springs, California. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Virginia Democrats have reached a legislative compromise to start legal retail cannabis sales in May 2025, agreeing on a path forward for a marketplace that appears likely to pass but faces a potential veto from Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Details on the agreement to pave the way for a legal adult-use cannabis market were shared by Del. Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax County), the sponsor of the Virginia House’s version of the bill, during the House’s General Laws Committee meeting Thursday.
The substitute version of the bill agreed to by Del. Krizek and state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), the sponsor of the Virginia Senate’s bill, would allow businesses to seek applications for licenses in September, allow sales to begin on May 1, 2025, and products would be subject to a 9% retail tax.
The start dates for applications and sales for all businesses ensure that the medical cannabis industry doesn’t get the head start that lawmakers and cannabis advocates raised concerns over, which Del. Krizek’s initial bill did.
The agreement, Krizek said, comes with “race-neutral” license preferences for micro-businesses that are economically disadvantaged, “including persons who’ve suffered hardship or loss due to this country’s war on marijuana.”
Krizek concluded by saying he and Sen. Rouse were glad “that the Senate and House are on the cusp of sending the governor legislation which will create a retail marijuana market in a very responsible and thoughtful way.”
“And we have to do this because we’ve got to do something about that $3 billion illicit market,” he added. “It’s time to give Virginians access to a safe, tested and taxed product.”
Virginia legalized cannabis more than two years ago, allowing people 21 and older to possess small amounts. And while Virginians can buy cannabis at dispensaries through the state’s medical program, there’s no way to buy it for recreational use.
After public comment and questions from a Republican state delegate about the legislation on Thursday, the substitute bill advanced out of the Democrat-controlled committee on a 12-10 party-line vote.
The legislation is expected to pass out of the Democrat-controlled legislature, but without a supermajority to block a veto, the question has continued to be what the governor will do. Youngkin has made his disinterest in the proposal clear but hasn’t directly said whether he would veto the legislation.
With the governor needing to work with Democrats on his priorities, particularly his hopes of bringing a $2 billion sports arena and entertainment district to Alexandria, he could be required to compromise on Democrat-led priorities.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
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