Today marks the one year anniversary of legalization in Virginia and multiple changes to marijuana law take effect.
Public Possession
Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the 2022 budget bill which contains language recriminalizing activities involving the personal possession of over four ounces of marijuana in public. Under the new law, the public possession of over four ounces, but less than one pound of cannabis is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine. Second or subsequent offenses are Class 2 misdemeanors punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
“Governor Youngkin’s actions are in direct conflict with his campaign promise to not roll back legalization and they are out of touch with the opinions of the majority of Virginians,” said JM Pedini, NORML’s Development Director and the Executive Director of Virginia NORML.
In 2021, just one day after Virginia’s legalization law took effect, the Youngkin campaign tweeted “Glenn Youngkin will not seek to repeal [the law.]”
“This administration has made no effort to establish a legal adult-use cannabis market or to ensure that all cannabis products sold in the Commonwealth are accurately labeled and regulated for consumer safety,” added Pedini.
During the April veto session, Gov. Youngkin attempted to recriminalize activities involving the possession of two ounces of marijuana by adults via the enactment of an amendment to SB 591. That effort failed with the Senate of Virginia’s refusal to advance the amendment.
“There appears to be a fundamental lack of understanding by budget conferees and the Youngkin administration of existing marijuana laws. If the intent of these new misdemeanors were to prevent possession of higher quantities of cannabis in public as a way to reduce illicit transactions, then they ought to have known that distribution of and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in any amount is already prohibited by multiple Code sections. Penalties for such infractions are already codified,” noted Pedini. “Even more problematic is that the 4-ounce possession limit is for ‘marijuana,’ the definition of which includes cannabis flower, seeds, concentrates, and edibles. Until the Cannabis Control Authority Board of Directors is able to promulgate the equivalent possession amounts for edible and other extraction-based formulations, Virginians can quickly run afoul of this new law by possessing edible cannabis products outside of their homes.”
During the 2022 Virginia General Assembly, Republican members of the House General Laws Subcommittee halted any further advancement of Senate-backed legislation, SB 391, that sought to initiate retail marijuana sales to adults beginning this September.
Personal Cultivation
In stark contrast to recriminalization, Virginia NORML successfully advocated for policies that will have a positive impact on responsible consumers and public safety. Language included in the budget clarifies that possession of cannabis in one’s residence for personal use is not subject to penalty and eliminates multiple Class 6 felonies related to personal cultivation – failing to tag plants, shield them from public view, or prevent access by those under 21. Such minor personal cultivation infractions are now subject to no more than a $25 civil penalty.
Unregulated THC Sales
Additional budget language also prohibits the retail sale of any product containing THC that is ingestible “orally or by inhalation” to those under 21 and prohibits packaging products to look like other famous brands.
“The approved consumer safety language requires only the most basic level of testing and consumer information for the otherwise unregulated products flooding the market. It also maintains existing loopholes for synthetic marijuana and high-THC products to be sold at retail and wholesale outside of the strict regulatory oversight currently required for legal cannabis products produced in Virginia,” added Pedini.
“Virginia has, by legislating through the budget, legalized retail marijuana, we are just going to call it ‘hemp,’” Delegate Dawn Adams, who spoke against the budget language, told Virginia NORML. “All tetrahydrocannabinols – not just delta-9 THC, but delta-8 THC and other synthetics – with the stroke of Governor Youngkin’s pen will be legal in Virginia as long as it is labeled ‘hemp,’” added Dr. Adams, a nurse practitioner with substantial expertise in cannabis medicine.
Medical Cannabis
Legislation signed earlier this year by Gov. Youngkin, HB 933 and SB 671, to eliminate the requirement that patients register with the Board of Pharmacy after receiving their written certification from a registered practitioner also takes effect July 1, 2022. Patients will only need their written certification to shop at one of the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries. Patients must still see a registered practitioner to obtain this certification and Registered Agents will still be required to register. Patients who would like to receive a physical card will still have the option to request one by registering with the Board of Pharmacy.
“These legislative improvements will bring great relief to the thousands of Virginians who have been waiting to access the medical cannabis program,” said Pedini. “We hear from dozens of Virginians each week who are struggling with the registration process and frustrated by the 60-day wait to receive their approval from the Board of Pharmacy,” Pedini added.
There are currently over 50,000 program registrants. At the time of passage, there were an estimated 8,000 applicants still awaiting approval.
A final cannabis-related amendment was put forth just prior to the final day of voting to ensure that medical cannabis cultivation is not interrupted should a processor relocate to a new facility, preventing disruption to product availability for patients.
For more information visit Virginia NORML.
