Advocates celebrate as changes to marijuana laws officially take effect in VA
Changes to marijuana laws officially take effect in VA
For the first time ever, Virginia now has legal marijuana. July 1 marks the start of a new law making the commonwealth becoming the first state in the South to legalize pot.
ROSSLYN, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - For the first time ever, Virginia now has legal marijuana. July 1 marks the start of a new law making the commonwealth becoming the first state in the South to legalize pot.
For years, people said Virginia would never move to legalize marijuana, but that all changed today as a new law went into effect which will eventually result in legal sales in the commonwealth in a few years.
Complaint: Virginia skill games ban is racial discrimination
June 30, 2021 GMT
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) A group of Asian American business owners in Virginia has requested that the state’s attorney general investigate what they say is racial discrimination in a pending ban on electronic skill games in their stores.
The Roanoke-based Asian American Business Owners Association asked Attorney General Mark Herring’s office to effectively block the ban that’s set to go into effect Thursday by refusing to enforce it, the Richmond-Times Dispatch reported.
“In recent years, gaming has been embraced by the commonwealth when it is enjoyed by the privileged in fancy casinos or by children in ‘family entertainment centers,’” the complaint filed on Saturday says. “But that very same activity is not acceptable when offered by Asian American owned convenience stores or enjoyed by minority or marginalized populations.”
“What we are looking for is a level playing field,” president Dharmendra Patel told the newspaper.
Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, a Republican from James City, supports the ban. He and Finance Chair Janet Howell, a Fairfax Democrat, said it was needed to stop the increase of previously unregulated game machines in convenience stores, truck stops and restaurants. They often directly compete with the Virginia Lottery, which is owned by the state and dedicates its profits to public education.
In recent years, gaming has been embraced by the commonwealth when it is enjoyed by the privileged in fancy casinos. But that very same activity is not acceptable when offered by Asian American owned convenience stores or enjoyed by minority or marginalized populations.
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by Tyler Arnold, The Center Square | June 29, 2021 08:00 PM Print this article
The Democratic Party of Virginia is holding its primary for governor and other statewide races June 8 and both parties are holding primaries for some House of Delegates races and other local races.
Virginia’s governor’s race will be an open-seat election between businessman Glenn Youngkin on the Republican ticket and the Democratic nominee chosen Tuesday. Current Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam cannot seek reelection per state law, which prohibits a governor from serving two consecutive terms.
Youngkin was chosen through a convention process last month after the Republican Party opted against a statewide primary. The Democratic Party is choosing its nominee through a more conventional primary method with the current frontrunner being former Gov. Terry McAullife.