Raise a Jay for VA on 7/1

Last  week the governor of Virginia announced that cannabis will be legal to possess as of July 1, 2021. This will make VA the first of the southern states and the 17th state overall to legalize recreational marijuana.

Under Virginia's new law, adults over the age of 21 can possess an ounce or less of marijuana beginning on July 1, 2021 rather than January 1, 2024. Gov. Ralph Northam proposed moving up the date, arguing it would be a mistake to continue to penalize people for possessing a drug that would soon be legal.

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax broke a 20-20 vote tie in Virginia's Senate to pass the bill 3 years sooner than initially scheduled. No Republicans showed support of the vote.

Republicans voiced a number of objections as to what they characterized as an "unwieldy", as the bill is nearly 300 pages long. Several criticized measures that would grant licensing preferences to people and groups who've been affected by the war on drugs and make it easier for workers in the industry to unionize.

The accelerated timeline sets Virginia cannabis consumers in an unusual predicament. While it will be legal to grow up to four marijuana plants beginning July 1, it could be several years before the state begins to license recreational marijuana retailers either by actual sales or through gifting. And unlike other states, the law will not allow the commonwealth's existing medical dispensaries to begin selling to all adults immediately.

Lawmakers need to vote again on the regulatory framework before any business licenses can be awarded.

All in all, any marijuana enthusiast residing or visiting Virginia are all counting down to July 1st. Not only will most of the pandemic precautions be loosened but it will be the first day a southern state, especially a commonwealth state at that, can finally join the ranks of other states getting litty.

May the countdown begin!

Written by: Lady Kay