The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have both approved the governor’s amendment to speed up cannabis legalization in the state. Along with the revision to move up the timeline to this summer. Allowing adults to possess and cultivate cannabis for personal use by July 1, 2021, instead of the original timeline for 2024.  

Governor Northam has been advocating for the reform. In February lawmakers sent bills to legalize marijuana for adult use. Late last month, the governor submitted substitute language to the bills. On Wednesday, both chambers approved the changes to their versions of the bills.

In the bill home cultivation and possession will be legal. Both will start in July of this year. Plants need to have a label with information for identification purposes. They will also need to be kept out of sight from the public view. Finally, they will need to be kept out of the range of individuals under the age of 21.

At the governor’s request, the legislature is going to adopt an amendment to expedite automatic expungements for people with prior marijuana convictions.

History Made in the South

“We made history as the first state in the South to legalize the simple possession of marijuana,” Northam said in a press release. “I am pleased that the General Assembly accepted my proposal to make this change on July 1, 2021, nearly three years earlier than planned.”

The Governor’s bill calls for immediate funding for two campaigns. The first is for a public education campaign targeting the health and safety risks of marijuana. The second is for law enforcement training targeting training for officers to recognize and prevent driving while using cannabis.

Sales Begin in 2024

Sales for recreational cannabis will begin in 2024. Pedini, national development director for NORML, commented on the improvements made to the legislation. But they said that people 21 and over should be able to purchase products from operational dispensaries in 2021 and shouldn’t have to wait for 2024. This type of delay will embolden illicit activity and cause more harm to the divide for equity applicants.

The Senate-passed legislation bill had legalization starting on July 1, but the House called for a 2024 start date. However, in the final bill the 2024 start date that the House favors won out over the July, 1 date from the Senate.

In Virginia for example, support for legalizing cannabis is strong. Two-thirds of adults favor adult-use legalization.

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