Virginia Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Marijuana

The new legislation will legalize marijuana for adult recreational use, but not until 2024.

What We Know:

• On January 1st, 2024, sales of recreational marijuana will start in Virginia. The new law will also decriminalize possession of up to an oz. (28.3 grams) of marijuana. Virginia will become the first Southern state to legalize marijuana and is the latest of 15 total states that currently allow recreational use. Before Virginia, New Jersey was the last state to join the legalization club. It joins Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts as the only east coast states that legalize marijuana. The legislation is now waiting for Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s signature, who supports legalization.
• Northam’s spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky, admits the state has taken an important step toward legalization. Only last year, Virginia has taken the first steps to legalization by making simple possession a civil penalty. The old law stated that minor possession could only be punishable by a fine of no more than $25.

“There’s still a lot of work ahead, but this bill will help to reinvest in our communities reduce inequities in our criminal justice system,” stated Yarmosky.

• Yarmosky’s statement holds as the bill has plans to dedicate 30% of marijuana tax revenue to the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund. The largest portion of this revenue stream will go toward funding pre-k classrooms for at-risk kids. The bill will also include various stipulations such as help communities over-policed for marijuana crimes, fund scholarships, and low-or no-interest loans for qualified cannabis businesses.
• The only question that remains is why the legislation was scheduled until 2024. It has been reported that the Senate wanted to move forward with legalizing marijuana possession this year, but House Democrats argued, “legalization without a legal market for marijuana could promote the growth of the black market.” It could also mean bad news for communities of color, who already have a tough time fairly navigating these laws. A study by the legislature’s research and watchdog agency found that in 2010-2019, black individuals’ average arrest rate for marijuana charges was 3.5x higher than white individuals’ arrest rate.

Lawmakers in Virginia are steadily and carefully creating new marijuana laws that also benefit communities previously wronged by outdated legislation.