“Virginians 21 and older ought to have access at the already-operational dispensaries sooner rather than later, and they have been very clear in their demands to move earlier the date of sales,” said Jenn Michelle Pedini, NORML’s Development Director and the Executive Director of Virginia NORML.
“Virginians were expecting an opportunity to expedite retail sales and cannabusiness licensing in the 2022 General Assembly. Now, it appears that chance may have gone up in smoke, and instead a potential delay looms on the horizon.”
333,886 simple marijuana possession conviction records were previously sealed after the state enacted a measure in 2020 to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession offenses.
Long awaited sales of cannabis flower in Virginia began this month when medical dispensaries received the final product approvals from the state’s regulatory agency.
“Decriminalization is only a partial step. It reduces the total number of marijuana arrests, but continues to leave far too many people — and young adults in particular — subject to the whims of law enforcement.”
“Today, together, we celebrate an extraordinary victory for cannabis justice in the Commonwealth.”
Virginia becomes the first southern state to legalize the possession and use of marijuana by adults.
Governor Northam recommended that provisions in the legislation legalizing the personal possession and personal cultivation of cannabis by adults take effect on July 1, 2021 rather than on January 1, 2024 — the enactment date initially approved by lawmakers.