Virginia gov expected to veto recreational marijuana sales measure

Virginia appears set to remain the only state in the country with recreational marijuana legalization but without legal sales.

That status quo would continue if, as widely expected, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin again vetoes adult-use sales legalization bills that state lawmakers recently sent to him.

For the second straight year, Virginia’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed legislation that would finally set up adult-use sales in the state.

Youngkin’s Democratic predecessor, Ralph Northam, signed legalization into law in 2021, but that bill had a clause that required further action to create a market projected to be worth hundreds of millions.

The most recent legislation would give exclusive adult-use sales rights to the state’s existing medical marijuana businesses, which include major multistate operators such as:

• Ayr Wellness.
• The Cannabist Co.
• Green Thumb Industries.
• Jushi Holdings.
• Verano Holdings Corp.

However, Youngkin vetoed a similar bill last year, citing health and safety concerns.

The governor’s press secretary told reporters before this legislative session that Youngkin’s views on recreational cannabis sales have not changed, according to The Washington Times.

In the meantime, Virginia’s medical marijuana patients are patronizing a massive illicit market, a 2023 study found.

Virginia awards MMJ dispensary licenses by region, with each company assigned exclusive rights to a particular area, according to the state’s Cannabis Control Authority.

Miami-based Ayr Wellness, meanwhile, has yet to begin operations in Virginia.

The process that led to Ayr being awarded the state’s fifth MMJ license is being challenged by seven businesses that filed suit in November, The Richmonder reported.