Future Of Marijuana Sales In VA The Focus Of Agenda Alexandria Program

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As the future of recreational marijuana sales remains uncertain in Virginia, an upcoming Agenda Alexandria program will explore current laws and what's next.

Currently, Virginia only allows possession of up to one ounce of marijuana but bans use by anyone under 21 and sales. Medical marijuana purchases are legal for patients who meet the state's requirements.

During the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session, bills by Del. Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax) and state Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) proposed creating a retail marijuana market with a Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Licenses would have started to be issued on Sept. 1, 2024 and retail sales would have started May 1, 2025. However, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the legislation.

Upon vetoing the legislation, Youngkin said in a statement, "states following this path have seen adverse effects on children’s and adolescent’s health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with retail marijuana that far exceed tax revenue. It also does not eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis, nor guarantee product safety."

The Democrat-controlled Virginia House and Senate had supported the recreational sales market that would have set an 11.625 percent tax, which would be above Maryland's 9 percent tax. According to the Washington Post, Krizek said the legislation would allow marijuana sales "in a "responsible and thoughtful way" and "give Virginia’s $3 billion illicit market a run for its money."

Agenda Alexandria's panel discussion will discuss what is legal and whether retail sales should be allowed. The program will be held on Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at the Lyceum. There is a cost to attend if you aren't an Agenda Alexandria member.

Panelists will include Trent Woloveck, chief strategy director at Beyond Hello dispensaries owner Jushi; Jeremy Preiss, Virginia Cannabis Control Authority's chief officer of regulatory, policy and external affairs; Robert B. Nealon, senior partner at Nealon & Associates; and Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter.

For more information, visit agendaalexandria.org.