Virginian Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed House Bill 2485, which aimed to establish a retail marijuana market in Virginia, citing adverse effects on children’s health and safety, failures of legalized retail markets in other states, increased violent crime, psychiatric disorders and decline in road safety.
His expected veto follows his veto last year of Democrats efforts to set up the market. The Democrats do not have the majority needed to override the Governor’s veto. Democrats legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021, but a shift to a republican controlled government stopped any implementation.
“Once again, Governor Youngkin has prioritized his personal politics over public safety, opting to keep control of Virginia’s marijuana market squarely in the hands of unregulated operators. This common-sense legislation would have taken marijuana out of corner stores and smoke shops and legalized access only for those age 21 and older in licensed dispensaries. Instead, these vetoes put at risk the health and safety of adult consumers and children alike, and provide protections to no one but the illicit market that has ballooned during his time in office,” JM Pedini, the executive director for Virginia NORML, said in a press release.
Gov. Youngkin wrote in his veto that the illegal market in the state is “pervasive and dangerous,” but advocates argue that refusing to allow retail cannabis encourages the illegal market to flourish.
He compared cannabis to opioids and “other controlled substances [that] are highly regulated and require the consultation of a medical provider to mitigate their negative consequences.”
“Attempting to rectify the error of decriminalizing marijuana by establishing a safe and regulated marketplace is an unachievable goal. The more prudent approach would be to revisit the issue of discrepancies in enforcement, not compounding the risks and endangering Virginians’ health and safety with greater market availability,” Gov. Youngkin’s statement finished.
Youngkin’s term is up at the end of this year, but another candidate-elect against cannabis could continue to stall the state’s retail market.
