Author: Julia Travers
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Virginians Jailed for Weed Will Stay Locked Up Even After Legalization
While there is much to celebrate in the July 1 legalization of adult cannabis use in Virginia, many argue the new law’s failure to address resentencing is a significant flaw: It does not address those currently incarcerated for cannabis charges. The long, complex bill was approved by the legislature late in the 2021 session, amended…
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Cannabis in the South: Advocates Talk Racial Justice and Reform Strategies
On 4/20, a Zoom panel about cannabis intersected with the imminent reading of the Derek Chauvin verdict, which highlighted the importance of racial justice in legalizing weed in the South. Five cannabis experts participated in the conversation that ran through the 4:20 hour and purposefully closed just before Judge Peter Cahill read the verdict, announcing…
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Are Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Patients Protected at Work? A Closer Look at the New Law
In late March, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed HB 1862 into law, which provides some employment protections for state-registered medical cannabis patients. At the time, Executive Director of Virginia NORML Jenn Michelle Pedini described the new legislation as “an important initial step.” What rights does the law impart to employees and employers? The Outlaw Report…
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gLeaf in Richmond Plans Medical Cannabis Drive-Thru for Summer
Medical Cannabis patients in Virginia may soon be able to cruise through a drive-thru to fill their prescriptions. This summer, Green Leaf Medical, AKA gLeaf, plans to open a dispensary in a former KFC/ Long John Silver’s in the Short Pump area of Richmond. GLeaf already has a large dispensary in the city’s Southside, which…
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‘This Is a Win’: Governor Amends Virginia Cannabis Bill for July Legalization
On March 31, in a win for Virginia drug-reform, Governor Ralph Northam proposed an amendment to legalize adult cannabis possession July 1, 2021, instead of 2024. This shift in the timeline was a central goal for the activists and legislators who aim to help Virginia address the racial disparities of its War on Drugs. While…
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MedMen’s PharmaCann Virginia Lawsuit Stalls Medical Cannabis in Staunton
Medical cannabis companies vying for a license in Staunton, Virginia, are in limbo, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by PharmaCann Virginia, which is owned by California-based MedMen, a major player in the dispensary market. PharmaCann Virginia was originally a subsidiary of PharmaCann, Inc., in Illinois but was later transferred to MedMen. PharmaCann previously…
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Psychedelics Decriminalization Initiative Takes Effect in D.C.: Now What?
As Washington D.C. moves closer to launching a regulated commercial cannabis market, plant-based psychedelics are taking a major step toward legal accessibility. On March 15, Initiative 81, a local decriminalization measure that voters supported in 2020, officially took effect. It makes “non-commercial planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, and/or possessing entheogenic plants…
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Will Virginia Legalize Pot This Summer? All Eyes on Governor Northam
When Virginia legislators voted to legalize recreational adult cannabis use in February, one of the most debated aspects of the bill was its three-year delay of legalization. This postponement ties the end of prohibition to the launch of the legal market in 2024. Some advocates and representatives have pointed out that this strategy will perpetuate…
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Following MedMen Debacle, TheraTrue Applies to Launch in Staunton, VA
In late February, the medical cannabis company TheraTrue submitted license applications in Virginia and its current home state of Georgia. The 2-year-old company announced the double license application, a new CEO—Victor E. Mancebo—with ties to the industry, and $50 million in funding commitments. In Virginia, TheraTrue seeks a Pharmaceutical Processor License in Health Service Area…
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How Should Virginia Spend Its Cannabis Profits?
Virginia’s plan for adult recreational cannabis use was approved in February, with a major bill review scheduled for 2022 and legalization set for 2024. When it comes to the use of cannabis taxes, the pro-legalization community is split. Governor Ralph Northam, the mayor of Richmond Levar Stoney, and some other Democrats support using the largest…
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Buds Ready to Bloom in Virginia’s Medical Program: Flower Is Approved
The final 2021 version of Virginia’s recreational cannabis legalization was approved in both houses in late February and now heads to the desk of the largely pro-cannabis Governor, Ralph Northam. Meanwhile, to less fanfare, Virginia’s medical cannabis program is taking a major step forward by allowing the sale of unprocessed flowers or smokable buds. With…
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Virginia Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Cannabis in 2024 in Last Minute Compromise
On Feb. 27, in the waning hours of a busy session, the Virginia General Assembly approved legislation to legalize adult recreational cannabis use. After working to resolve differences between two complex bills from Democrats, the legislature accepted a compromise that will allow recreational pot possession when the commercial market launches in 2024. Some advocates criticize…