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Adult-use marijuana is likely to be legalized in Virginia this year, but some sticking points still need to be worked out before that can happen. (Photo: Alex Scribner/VPM News)
State lawmakers are moving at breakneck speed to legalize recreational marijuana in Virginia and provide a clean slate for thousands of people previously convicted of marijuana offenses.
The proposals now before the General Assembly are lengthy and complex and will likely continue to be finessed over the coming weeks before reaching Governor Ralph Northam’s desk. Although law enforcement groups largely oppose legalization, some form of the legislation will likely pass, and advocates say the process has been thorough.
Landmark legislation that would make Virginia the first state in the South to legalize marijuana is heading toward its first full votes before the House and Senate this week.
And while the proposal has garnered consistent â and in some cases bipartisan â support, significant debate remains on key details of the proposal, including when and how criminal penalties should be rolled back as the state begins working to establish a legal marketplace for the drug.
Lawmakers and advocates said the question became even more important last week as the legislation was amended in both the House and Senate to push the start of retail sales to Jan. 1, 2024, a full year later than the 2023 date proposed by Gov. Ralph Northam.
Newest Wason Center Poll highlights priorities of Virginia voters I Voted sticker (Source: WVIR) By WDBJ Newsroom | February 2, 2021 at 10:20 AM EST - Updated February 2 at 10:20 AM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WDBJ) - The newest poll from Christopher Newport Universityâs Wason Center for Civic Leadership gives a glimpse of what is important to Virginia voters as the 2021 General Assembly debates new laws and the state budget.
The poll showed Virginia voters strongly back legalizing marijuana, requiring employees to provide paid sick leave and repealing the death penalty. When it comes to priorities for increased state spending, voters ranked health care and K-12 education highest and tourism and prisons lowest.
Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly says the state is ready for medical marijuana legalization.
What’s more, Kelly argues that the revenue and taxation from medical cannabis sales could be used to support Medicaid expansion (h/t The Kansas City Star).
This is in contrast to the claim that the Sunflower State doesn’t have enough funds to support the expansion of Medicaid to help around 165,000 low-income residents.
“You have heard many of the comments coming from the opposition have been we can’t afford it,” Kelly said. “We have just designed a bill that pays for itself and more.”
Health insurance is a big issue in Kansas, with more than 200,000 state residents being uninsured, mostly because they have too high of a salary to qualify for Medicaid, and still not enough to pay for their healthcare insurance, the report continued.
On Wednesday, Governor Ralph Northam introduced legislation that would legalize marijuana sales in the Commonwealth. Author: Adriana De Alba Updated: 5:59 PM EST January 14, 2021
RICHMOND, Va. Virginia just took another step toward legalizing the sale of marijuana.
During his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday, Governor Ralph Northam introduced his team’s legislation.
“We’ve done the research, and we can do this the right way: leading with social equity, public health and public safety, said Northam.
The proposed adult-use cannabis legislation would allow people ages 21 and older to sell marijuana beginning January 1, 2023.
Under the legislation, there will be five licenses to choose from: cultivation, processing, distribution, retail and testing.