Virginia made history last year when it became the first state in the South to fully legalize cannabis, but a new governor and a reenactment clause in the law could bring changes to the original statute that the General Assembly approved in April. “Virginia’s legalization law … was somewhat unique,” Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), told Cannabis Business Times. “Virginia can pass laws that require reauthorization, meaning they don’t take effect unless the Legislature votes for them again.” Outgoing Gov. Ralph Northam signed the state’s adult-use legislation into law last spring after the General Assembly approved amendments to expedite the cannabis possession and home grow provisions, which took effect July 1. Under the current law, adults 21 and older can legally possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis in public and can cultivate up to four plants at their primary residence for personal use. Commercial sales are slated to start Jan. 1, 2024, under the statute, but until then, selling or purchasing cannabis outside Virginia’s medical program remains illegal.
Cannabis Business Times, 01/11/2022 14:17:00