While a legalization bill moved forward in Virginia, the timeline for implementation could be extended. The Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Subcommittee on Marijuana met on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to discuss the details of a legalization plan put forth by Governor Ralph Northam’s administration. On Tuesday, as Cannabis Wire reported, the panel heard hours of public testimony from residents and stakeholders both for and against legalization. The Senate panel eventually voted on Wednesday 4-3 to move the amended legalization bill out of committee, with a major change: the creation of an independent cannabis regulatory agency, rather than going with existing alcohol regulators. This could push the schedule for legal sales back a year to allow for the new regulatory entity to be launched. Now, the legislation is scheduled to be taken up by the full Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee on Friday; the panel also agreed to send the legislation to the Finance and Judiciary committees.
Alyson Martin, Cannabis Wire, 01/19/2021 19:00:00