RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday announced his top Democratic legislative priorities: a bill that would allow retail sales of marijuana for recreational use to begin next year and a bill that would mandate a minimum wage increase. vetoed two items.
This development was not surprising. Youngkin did not specifically threaten to veto either bill, but he told reporters he didn’t think a minimum wage bill was needed and reiterated that he had no interest in establishing retail marijuana sales. It’s here.
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In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana, adopting a policy change that allows adults 21 and older to possess and grow marijuana. However, the state did not have a retail sales system at that time, and due to subsequent changes in partisanship and policy differences, it still does not have one now.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin delivers the State of the Union address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly at the State Capitol on January 10, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. Youngkin vetoed approximately two dozen bills on Wednesday, March 20th. Crime and law enforcement legislation includes bills that would expand the credits that inmates can receive for early release from prison and allow some immigrants who are not U.S. citizens to become police officers. . (AP Photo/Steve Herber)
Supporters say the disconnect is allowing an illicit market to flourish, while opponents worry about health and safety by further expanding access to the drug. Mr. Yonkin said in his statement that he shared these concerns.
“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 associated costs; it does not eliminate the illegal black market sale of cannabis and does not guarantee the safety of the product,” it said in a veto statement attached to the bill. .
Currently, home cultivation and adult sharing of the drug is legal in Virginia. Patients can then purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary after receiving written certification from their health care provider.
According to the bill, the state would begin accepting applications to grow, test, process and sell the drug on September 1, in preparation for market opening on May 1, 2025, and the product would contain up to 11.625% tax will be levied.
The bill was supported by various industry interests but opposed by religious and socially conservative groups.
Virginia’s first legalization efforts came at a time when Democrats had full control of state government. That changed in an election later that year, in which Youngkin won and Republicans controlled the House of Delegates for two years, but Democrats now regained full control of the state Legislature.
There has been some support from Republican legislators since the 2021 legislative session to establish legal recreational sales, but the bill was defeated in 2022 and 2023.
The wage bill, which would raise the current $12 an hour minimum wage to $13.50 on January 1, 2025 and then $15 on January 1, 2026, “jeopardizes market freedom and the economy,” Youngkin said. said. Competitiveness. ”
He said in a news release that the bill would “implement significant wage mandates, raise costs for families and small businesses, put jobs at risk, and fail to recognize regional economic disparities across Virginia.” .
Virginia Democrats launched an effort to raise the minimum wage in 2020. That same year, it passed a law delayed by the coronavirus pandemic that established gradual increases up to $12, with further increases requiring another vote in Congress.
They and other supporters say the bill would help working families buy basic necessities and keep pace with inflation.
On Thursday, Youngkin took action on a total of 107 bills, according to his office. He announced more than 100 measures, including measures his office says will “strengthen law enforcement’s ability to prosecute child predators and expand access to quality health care services for correctional inmates.” signed.
In addition to marijuana and the wage bill, he vetoed three other issues. One could also consider removing agricultural worker exemptions from state minimum wage laws.
Another proposal would have required about 315 people who are incarcerated or on community supervision with felony marijuana convictions to undergo sentencing review, Youngkin’s office said. Dew.
“Ninety-seven inmates convicted of violent felonies, including first- and second-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery, would be eligible for reduced sentences under this proposal,” he said in a statement announcing the veto. ” he said.
Thursday’s final veto came on a bill that deals with the type of evidence considered in certain workers’ compensation claims. The governor said that while current law provides a “balanced approach,” this proposal “creates an imbalance in favor of one political party.”
The non-permanent General Assembly closed its regular session earlier this month and will reconvene for a one-day session in Richmond on April 17 to consider Youngkin’s proposed amendments to the bill. They could also try to override one or more of the vetoes, which would require two-thirds of both chambers, which Democrats control by a narrow margin.
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Because the cannabis bill was largely passed along party lines, and the minimum wage bill was also passed strictly along party lines, any repeal attempt would almost certainly fail.
Youngkin announced his veto a day after one of his top legislative priorities, a deal to bring the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards to Alexandria, was publicly rejected.The team’s majority owners announced they would instead remain in Washington, D.C.
