CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR)—Virginia lawmakers are resubmitting a bill that would establish a legal retail cannabis market in the Commonwealth.
It would give retail businesses across Virginia a set of guidelines that need to be followed in order to sell cannabis recreationally.
One local dispensary owner says this legislation is long overdue.
“It has been an uphill battle for us,” David Treccariche said.
Treccarichie owns Skooma on Charlottesville’s downtown mall.
He says the ongoing battle to establish a legal retail cannabis market in Virginia has been challenging.
“there was some initial framework and regulatory agencies,” Treccariche said. “Unfortunately the framework is not going in our favor. It’s favoring medical and it’s favoring out-of-state, conglomerate, private-equity money. We’re just looking for our fair shot.”
Cannabis was legalized in Virginia in 2021 but there was no framework of regulations for retail businesses to follow.
“I know a lot of our local business owners in the community have really been affected by this,” Treccariche said. “We try to do everything we can to stay above board, but it is very challenging being a small business owner and having the state actively disable you.”
That is why 22nd District Senator Aaron Rouse (D) is one of two state legislators making another push for a bill that would do just that.
“What this bill is attempting to do is recognize a well-regulated, marijuana retail market because it’s essential to public safety,” Rouse said. “Virginia has a multi-billion dollar unregulated cannabis market…that we could be capitalizing off of to make to put Virginia’s priorities forward.”
Rouse passed the bill in the house and senate but was shot down by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2024.
Treccariche says if things don’t change soon the current state of the retail cannabis industry in Virginia will only get worse.
“Less avenues to obtain your product doesn’t mean less consumption, it just means less logical consumption,” Treccariche said. “All we want is nice, legal framework. Transparency, we want a seat at the table as a small business owner or small Virginia farmer. We have to be included on that conversation.”
The bill has been submitted and will go through the same process it did in the past.
If it passes it’ll once again be up to Governor Youngkin to decide what the future of retail cannabis in Virginia will be.
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