Gov. Abigail Spanberger and lawmakers have reached a compromise to legalize retail marijuana sales, with a target start date of July 1, 2027. The deal comes after years of debate in the General Assembly and a gubernatorial veto earlier this year.
Simple possession of marijuana became legal in Virginia in 2021, but retail sales have remained in legal limbo since then.
Watch full: Gov. Spanberger announces compromise to legalize retail marijuana in Va.
Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation earlier this year to legalize sales but has since worked out a compromise with lawmakers to include the provision in the state budget.
Under the compromise, the state would impose an initial 6% tax rate on marijuana sales. Local communities could impose an additional 1% to 3.5% tax. The number of retail stores statewide would be capped at 350.
"Virginians have been waiting a long time for policy makers and a governor who wanted to do this and get it right," Spanberger said on Tuesday morning.
The governor had initially proposed a misdemeanor charge for anyone caught smoking marijuana in public, but the compromise changes that to a $250 fine.
Watch previous coverage: Governor Spanberger vetoes legal retail marijuana market in Virginia
Virginia NORML, an organization advocating for the reform of marijuana laws, offered a measured response to the deal.
"Although NORML has deep concerns about provisions in the bill to increase the civil penalty for public cannabis consumption, we are encouraged by other areas of broader agreement," the group's Executive Director JM Pedini said.
Dustin Weekley is a local business owner who has been following the debate about marijuana laws for years. He hopes to one day obtain a business license to sell marijuana..
"The legalization of it I think it is going to be great. iIt'll be controlled. People don't have to worry about having other illicit drugs in their marijuana. It'll be much safer, but I was always a firm believer that it should be in the hands of the people and not big companies," Weekley said.
Weekley also said he sees merit in the compromise approach to public consumption.
"It's kind of a good compromise between the two. No one wants to go to jail for smoking cannabis, but you also don't want it around your kids when you're at a park trying to enjoy a family day," Weekley said.
Supporters of the legislation say the lengthy process was necessary to get the policy right for Virginia specifically.
"I think it's something that's important to get right. It's nothing that should be rushed. Virginia is different than any other state so we can't really mimic what they're doing," Weekley said.
Final passage of the state budget remains at an impasse among lawmakers over a separate dispute involving data centers.
Watch previous coverage: Virginia lawmakers won't take up Spanberger's proposed changes to marijuana law
Virginia first legalized marijuana possession for adults aged 21 and older in 2021, but bills to legalize non-medical sales have been vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Lead budget negotiators have said they are close to a deal on the overall state spending plan, which must be finalized by the June 30 deadline. Monday’s press conference is expected to outline how the cannabis provisions will be incorporated into that agreement.
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