Youngkin vetoes bill setting up sale of recreational marijuana in Virginia

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have created a legal market for the sale of recreational marijuana in the Old Dominion state.

Youngkin argued that the bill would create a state-regulated recreational marijuana market, “putting the health and safety of Virginians at risk.” his veto statement.

“States that follow this path will see negative health and safety impacts for children and youth, increases in gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and retail marijuana sales that far exceed tax revenues.” “There are significant costs involved,” he said. .

Yonkin argued that the law would not eliminate illegal black market sales of marijuana or guarantee the product’s safety.

passed bill virginia house and Senate last monthThat would allow the state to begin accepting applications to grow, test and sell cannabis on September 1, in preparation for a market opening on May 1, 2025, according to the Associated Press. reported.

The law comes nearly three years after Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana through a policy change that allowed adults 21 and older to possess and grow marijuana.

Disagreements over policy have stagnated retail sales in Virginia since the beginning, which critics say has led to continued illegal sales in the state, the news agency said. added.

Yonkin has so far not indicated what action he will take on the bill, repeatedly saying he has no “interest” in the policy issue.

“I’d like to work on areas where we can find common ground and make progress toward improving Virginia, and there are so many of those,” he told reporters in January, according to the Associated Press. Ta.

The bill was one of seven bills Youngkin chose to veto Thursday. His office said the bills would “legalize drug sales, undermine public safety, and arbitrarily set labor prices.”

He signed 100 other bills Thursday, his office confirmed.

Youngkin vetoed the assault weapons ban and a series of other gun control bills earlier this week as part of Tuesday’s veto of 30 bills.

“I have taken an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia, and that absolutely includes defending the right of law-abiding Virginians to keep and bear arms,” ​​Youngkin said in a statement Tuesday. .