A union and marijuana justice nonprofit are fighting for protections for workers and fairness for small operations as the multi-billion dollar industry gets closer to coming online in Virginia.
Virginia's retail cannabis sales could start next November, but debate continues about how to establish the market in a way that's fair to workers and small businesses.
A committee of state lawmakers met earlier this month to go over the details of how a retail cannabis market could be established and regulated in Virginia. The discussion is years in the making and comes after term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has blocked Virginia's entry into an industry that had over $30 billion in sales last year.
Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has said she supports creating a legalized retail market, so it's likely it will happen on her watch. Virginia already has medical cannabis dispensaries and it's legal to possess up to one ounce for personal use. But unlike in neighboring Maryland, it's still illegal to buy and sell cannabis—for now.
Virginia lawmakers are developing legislation to establish a retail cannabis market in Virginia. They are balancing various goals like making sure small businesses don't get pushed out by massive corporations; supporting local farmers in this ag-heavy state; righting the wrongs perpetuated by the racist prosecution of the War on Drugs, and protecting public safety.
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