Posted on 04/23/2021 8:15:35 AM PDT by NobleFree
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed a new law legalizing marijuana in the state Wednesday.
It will go into effect on July 1, making Virginia the 17th state and first in the South to legalize cannabis for adult use.
"We are moving forward in a way that promotes equity, provides a clean slate to those with prior convictions, and reinvests in the communities harmed by over-criminalization," Northam tweeted, along with a photo from the bill signing.
Northam had sent a prior version of the bill back to state lawmakers with recommended changes that included moving up the date it would go into effect by three years.
At a news conference Wednesday, the governor said Black Virginians are three times as likely as White residents to be arrested on low-level marijuana charges, despite usage being roughly equal among all races.
Now anyone age 21 or older can legally possess up to an ounce of the drug, and residents are allowed to grow up to four plants. And some people convicted of lesser marijuana offenses will have their records expunged.
Smoking marijuana in public or driving under its influence will remain crimes. And selling the drug is not slated to become legal in the state until 2024.
Separately, Northam also rolled back a coronavirus ban on bar seating this week, allowing socially distanced groups to take advantage of the spaces again.
The Democrat-backed legalization bill has received a mixed reception from Republicans, who strongly opposed the bill in the state legislature.
Republican Delegate Chris Head called the rushed timeline "a train wreck" and said lawmakers had caved to activists.
Denver Riggleman, a former GOP congressman whose family owns a distillery in Afton, welcomed the new law.
"As someone used to dealing with controlled substances as a distiller, whiskey has been called ‘Devil water,’ legalizing the Devil’s lettuce is a real advantage for the Commonwealth and our economy," he said Thursday.
Kim Taylor, a Republican candidate for the state House of Delegates who is building a brewery in Chesterfield, had mixed feelings on the move.
"We absolutely need to take steps in the Commonwealth for clear criminal justice reform, enabling medical marijuana use and stopping disproportionate incarceration," she said. "At the same time, I don’t feel out current legislators in Richmond have done their job analyzing the long-term social, health and economic impact of legalizing cannabis."
Don’t worry, they will waste this money.
But I still need to go to an ABC store to buy liquor.
it escalated quickly.
hopefully this will lower the price since there are only one dispensary since mmj started last year.
They likely won’t make that much since illegal weed will be lots cheaper.
Did he wear blackface again?
bet the mortgage you’ll need an ID to buy weed. That’s racist dontcha know.
Good luck getting pothead drivers off the road, too.
VA doesn’t have a standard for weed impaired driving. Which makes prosecution a lot more expensive and getting a conviction a lot more difficult.
“They likely won’t make that much since illegal weed will be lots cheaper.”
Marijuana tax revenue collected in the 8 states with operational marijuana programs in 2020 was $2.3 billion: https://www.fool.com/research/marijuana-tax-revenue-by-state/
Goes along with dumbed down standards in math.
China wins in a walk.
It’s good people in the state of Virgina can now have, use & grow their own cannabis.
I do not trust the commie gov’t of Va to do anything positive with the $$$ from cannabis taxes.
Probably - but it won't be used to as murderous effect as if it had been left in cartel hands.
And that’s gross, not net. And it’s chump change.
Loser State bump for later....
For folks who have no idea, if you know any legal eagles, judges, prosecutors...
Ask about the difficulties and costs associated with getting pothead drivers off the roads.
It’ll be an eye-opening conversation.
Good Point.
Michigan now has marijuana businesses popping up all over. My home township has forbidden them, but the one we live in has a very busy Lume drive up.
Marijuana tax revenue collected in the 8 states with operational marijuana programs in 2020 was $2.3 billion: https://www.fool.com/research/marijuana-tax-revenue-by-state/
And that’s gross, not net.
How much does it cost a state to collect a sales tax?
And it’s chump change.
Compared to what?
I assume that they kicked the can down the road on retail sales until 2024 simply because they did not yet have their act together on how they would regulate it.
But the net result will be a playground for cartels and MS-13 retailing in the meantime.
If DC or Maryland starts retail recreational sales, I’d bet Virginia’s timeframe would speed right up.
Ask about the difficulties and costs associated with getting pothead drivers off the roads.
I don't know any such. What have you heard?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.