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Virginia lawmakers struck down a push to legalize and set a framework for retail sales of recreational cannabis on Tuesday.
According to Virginia Mercury, the House General Laws Subcommittee members failed to advance two separate measures that would have allowed sales of marijuana to adults aged 21 and older.
Even though the vote on HB 1464 from Del. Keith Hodges (R-Gloucester), which sought to set up a framework for creating a retail cannabis market in the state wasn’t unanimous, it failed 5-2 with Republicans being against it. The other measure, HB 1750 from Del. Michael J. Webert (R-Fauquier), which would have allowed Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to issue marijuana licenses in 2024, was also killed by the committee members.
NORML Development Director JM Pedini called the vote “another stunning failure of leadership on cannabis policy.”
“Absent a regulated marketplace, consumers of cannabis products don’t know whether they’re getting a safe, tested product or one contaminated with potentially dangerous adulterants,” Pedini added.