(WSET) — Governor Glenn Youngkin has once again vetoed a bill that would allow for a retail marijuana sales market.
It was no surprise, as he has said repeatedly, that he will not sign the bill into law.
However, it is frustrating for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws’ Development Director, JM Pedini.
“It’s still very disappointing that four years after passing legalization, there is still no legal retail access,” Pedini said.
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Luke Niforatos, Executive Vice President at Smart Approaches to Marihuana, said the Governor’s veto is a major win for Virginia.
“When you ask people, ‘Do you want a pot shop in your neighborhood? Do you want gummy bears and candies that are laced with THC sold in your neighborhood?’, Most people don’t want that,” Niforatos said.
This November, Virginians will vote on their next governor.
Pedini, who also serves as the Executive Director of the State Chapter of Virginia NORML, said this is a crucial election for potentially getting retail weed sales legalized.
“If Virginians do not elect a governor in 2025 who would sign a retail sales bill, the next opportunity they would have to legalize sales would be 2030,” Pedini said.
Niforatos said they aren’t as worried about the election and said Virginians have made it clear they don’t want legalized sales.
“These drugs become more available and in a lot of different kinds and shapes and forms like candies, cookies, gummies, and ice cream that are clearly targeting kids, and so that’s what we’re seeing with marijuana. Unfortunately, the black market only gets worse if you legalize it,” Niforatos said.
However, Virginia NORML believes legalizing retail sales would lead to more regulation of marijuana, ultimately keeping it out of the hands of children.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana insists otherwise.
Governor Glenn Youngkin has once again vetoed a bill that would allow for a retail marijuana sales market. Read More
