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A Virginia legislative commission on marijuana has unveiled a much-anticipated proposal to legalize recreational marijuana sales that it is recommending lawmakers pass during the 2026 session. And with an incoming governor supportive of the cannabis reform<\/a>, advocates are optimistic that the plan could come fruition.<\/p>\n After months of hearings and debate, the legislature\u2019s <\/a>Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market<\/a>\u00a0released a framework for an adult-use marijuana program<\/a> at its final meeting on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Since legalizing cannabis possession and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia lawmakers have worked to establish a commercial marijuana market<\/a>\u2014only to have those efforts consistently stalled under outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who twice vetoed measures to enact it that were sent to his desk by the legislature.<\/p>\n Once the next legislative session begins in January, the new proposal is expected to be sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek (D), who has served as chair of the commission, as well as Sens. Louise Lucas (D) and Aaron Rouse (D).<\/p>\n Notably, the latest version of the recommended legislation omits language from previous measures that would\u2019ve allowed local jurisdictions to opt out of allowing marijuana businesses within their borders, while also increasing the authority of local governments to levy taxes and promoting a licensing structure that prioritizes small businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cOur commission has worked very diligently to review existing law and develop a bill that will not only establish a much needed adult-use retail market here in Virginia, but also reflect what Virginians wanted to be. And we\u2019ve listened to you,\u201d Krizek said in opening remarks on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The panel didn\u2019t release the text of a finalized bill it wants the legislature to pass\u2014as staff are still making tweaks based on members\u2019 input\u2014and instead posted a seven-page document outlining changes from a bill that advanced last session.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal has been to listen, and I think we have. And so this bill hopefully has a little for everybody,\u201d Krizek said. \u201cIt builds a new market that supports hundreds of small businesses and strengthens Virginia agriculture, reduces the racial disparities created by the prohibition on marijuana and, most importantly, protects public safety and health.\u201d<\/p>\n Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D), the vice chair of the panel, echoed those points, stating that the commission \u201chas taken the feedback that has been shared through various stakeholders. You will hear support for some of those recommendations, and you will hear continued opposition to some of those recommendations, but this is what they are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are simply recommendations that will continue to be a fluid\u2014continue to be assessed and further work all the way through this process, as well as the legislative process,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I hope that what this matrix reveals today is a responsive attempt to try to take all of the feedback that has been received and structure it into a process and a framework that we can work from in a more collective way.\u201d<\/p>\n Krizek and Aird\u2014alongside fellow commission member Rep. Will Morefield (R)\u2014also laid out their thinking on the cannabis rgulatory framework in an op-ed published by Cardinal News on Monday.<\/p>\n The lawmakers wrote that\u00a0they \u201cwant retailers to reflect the character and essence of the communities they locate in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why any legislation that removes the opt-out option will also allow local governments to maintain full zoning authority, set operational guidelines, review local business licensing and set buffer distances from schools and houses of worship,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe get one chance to get this right. Virginia has gone on too long in a state of confusion created by an unfinished cannabis law,\u201d the legislators said. \u201cNo matter where a person lives, whether it\u2019s in rural, urban or suburban Virginia, they deserve access to cannabis should they choose to use it, and without fear of contaminated products that put their health, safety and well-being at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is only one way to do that, and it\u2019s with a law that establishes a retail marketplace for adults that protects consumers and children, allows equitable and fair participation and access in that marketplace, supports law enforcement and fulfills the promise of true legalization,\u201d they said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Virginia\u2019s marijuana sales legislation as passed last year would have done:<\/strong><\/p>\n As recommended by the joint commission, here\u2019s how the bill would change for 2026:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to really make sure that there\u2019s no monopolies and no Big Tobacco, right?\u201d Krizek, the chair of the commission, said at Tuesday\u2019s meeting, referring to ownership limits on licenses. \u201cAnd so it\u2019s better, in some ways, to be a little tougher with this iteration than not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf it comes back a year from now or two years from now, and it\u2019s problematic, then we revisit the code. We make changes. But it seems to me, it\u2019s more prudent to be the tough parent, if you will,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then we can always walk it back a little bit because there\u2019ll definitely be changes that we\u2019ll need to make in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n JM Pedini, development director for the advocacy group NORML and executive director for Virginia NORML, told Marijuana Moment that the group will be \u201ckeeping a close eye on those inflated licensing fees and proposed tax rates\u2014ultimately costs which are passed on to and paid for by cannabis consumers, not corporations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNORML will remain steadfast in our advocacy for consumers\u2019 access to cannabis products that are safe, convenient, and affordable,\u201d Pedini said. \u201cWithout cannabis consumers, there is no cannabis industry.\u201d<\/p>\n Chelsea Higgs Wise, co-founder and executive director of Marijuana Justice, testified before the commission on Tuesday, expressing concern that the timeline to start sales on November 1 of next year may disproportionately favor existing medical cannabis dispensaries that are able to convert sooner than new applicants could get licensed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would only be the medical folks that are there and able to sell,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Rouse, one of the sponsors of the newly recommended 2026 proposal, said last month that he\u2019s \u201cvery optimistic\u201d about the prospect of advancing legislation to create an adult-use marijuana market in the coming session<\/a>. That optimism is heightened by the fact that state Democrats widened their House majority, and voters elected a pro-legalization governor, in November.<\/p>\n \u201cAny measure that we can take to find revenue, I\u2019m very optimistic about that approach,\u201d the senator, who has been the lead sponsor of legislation to legalize and regulate adult-use sales that was vetoed by the outgoing GOP governor, said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe, in Virginia, have to take every step we can to make sure we can find revenues that strengthen our communities, that strengthens the education process, that puts food on the table, that gets people back to work,\u201d Rouse said.<\/p>\n \u2014 This next session is shaping up to deliver different results. In addition to growing their majority in the Assembly, Democrats now have Abigail Spanberger as the state\u2019s next governor, and the party also secured wins in the Commonwealth\u2019s lieutenant governor and attorney general races.<\/p>\n Spanberger, a former congresswoman, told Marijuana Moment ahead of the election that \u201cas Virginia takes steps toward creating a legalized retail market for cannabis,\u201d the commonwealth \u201cneeds a clear strategy to set up a market that is safe for consumers, transparent for businesses, and fair to entrepreneurs.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that \u201crevenue from commercial cannabis products must return to Virginia communities and be reinvested for purposes like strengthening our public schools.\u201d<\/p>\n The governor-elect said she will \u201cwork with leaders in the General Assembly to find a path forward that both prioritizes public safety and grows Virginia\u2019s economy\u201d\u2014and that part of that is establishing \u201ca formalized, legal, emerging cannabis market.\u201d<\/p>\n During her time in Congress, Spanberger voted twice on the House floor in support of bills to federally\u00a0legalize\u00a0marijuana. She also consistently backed legislation to\u00a0free\u00a0up\u00a0banking services for the industry,\u00a0protect\u00a0all\u00a0state cannabis program from federal interference and\u00a0expand\u00a0marijuana research. The former congresswoman additionally opposed a\u00a0proposal\u00a0to remove protections for universities that study cannabis.<\/p>\n She voted against certain reform proposals, however, including on measures to\u00a0lift\u00a0certain\u00a0research barriers for Schedule I drugs and to revise federal policy to\u00a0prevent\u00a0past marijuana use from being used as a factor to determine eligibility for a security clearance.<\/p>\n Spanberger cosponsored bills to provide medical cannabis access for military veterans on two occasions, and she cosponsored the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act during the 116th Congress.<\/p>\n At the legislative commission\u2019s<\/a> first meeting in July, members\u00a0discussing broad regulatory considerations and other issues related to THC potency, the hemp market<\/a>\u00a0and more. In August, the panel\u00a0focused on cannabis taxes and revenue<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a top Democratic Virginia senator recently said\u00a0the state should move forward with legalizing recreational marijuana sales<\/a>\u2014in part to offset the Trump administration\u2019s cuts to federal spending in support of states.<\/p>\n The post Virginia Marijuana Commission Unveils Plan To Legalize Adult-Use Sales Under New Pro-Reform Governor<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
A Virginia legislative commission on marijuana has unveiled a much-anticipated proposal to legalize recreational marijuana sales that it is recommending lawmakers pass during the 2026 session. And with an incoming governor supportive of the cannabis reform, advocates are optimistic that the plan could come fruition. After months of hearings andContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":84660,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84659"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84661,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84659\/revisions\/84661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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\nRead More: Virginia Marijuana Commission Unveils Plan To Legalize Adult-Use Sales Under New Pro-Reform Governor<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"