The movement toward creating a legal cannabis market in Virginia came to a screeching halt in March as Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin wielded his veto power, officially putting the brakes on legislation that aimed to pave the way for recreational cannabis sales in the state.

Since 2021, Virginia has permitted adults aged 21 and above to possess and cultivate cannabis for personal use within their homes. However, the legislation mandated a subsequent vote to greenlight commercial sales, a vote that failed after Republicans took control in the House of Delegates later that year.

In justifying his veto, Youngkin expressed concerns over the potential ramifications of legalizing retail marijuana, citing threats to public health and safety. He argued that the proposed legislation fell short in addressing issues such as the perpetuation of the illegal black market for cannabis.

These same arguments have been used by other anti-cannabis politicians in the past. Studies have shown a decrease in teen use of cannabis after legalization, as well as decreased use of opioids. As for the black market, legalized states have struggled to contain it, but the black market is a pre-existent issue that is still very much present in states with no legal cannabis market.

Legal Cannabis Market in Virginia Was Going to Be a Trailblazer in the South

Virginia became the third state to greenlight recreational cannabis in 2021, following New Mexico and New York. Democrats controlled the legislature at the time – no Republicans voted for the measure. It made Virginia the first state in the South to legalize marijuana.

However, the move by the governor is in lockstep with political lines at the national level. Democrats in Congress have tried for years to pass a cannabis legalization bill, with Republicans, for the most part, opposed.

Even President Joe Biden has not supported legalization, instead advocating decriminalization and rescheduling of marijuana at the federal level.

Cannabis Proponents Had Hoped to Pass a Bill in 2024

Proponents for a legal cannabis market in Virginia had their hopes pinned on the possibility of advancing a marijuana regulation bill this year, buoyed by the Democratic resurgence in the House of Delegates in the last November elections. They had hoped to use Youngkin’s veto as a bargaining chip for Democrats in ongoing budget negotiations, particularly concerning Youngkin’s ambitious $2 billion stadium project aimed at bringing the Washington Capitals and Wizards to Northern Virginia.

However, the final budget passed by the Legislature omitted funding for what was dubbed the “Glenn Dome,” effectively derailing the leverage Democrats had hoped to wield. Subsequent developments, including Alexandria’s announcement that a proposed arena project would not proceed, further complicated the political landscape.

Democratic  Paul Krizek, the driving force behind the cannabis marketplace legislation, condemned the governor’s veto, decrying it as a missed opportunity to combat the flourishing underground cannabis market and safeguard Virginians from associated risks.

Looking ahead, advocates for legalization, including the state’s medical marijuana providers, are expected to redouble their efforts in the next legislative session to push for adult-use sales in Virginia. Meanwhile, neighboring Washington, D.C., inked a deal that ensures the Capitals and Wizards will remain in the District until 2050.