Virginia Republicans are proposing changing the state’s legalization law since they won the governorship last year. The proposed changes include starting sales sooner than planned and not prioritizing people who have been convicted of cannabis-related crimes when issuing licenses.

“The overriding top-tier concern is that we have to have a regulatory structure in place for retail sales that does not encourage the black market,” said Garren Shipley, a spokesperson for House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, told Cannabis News Box that getting cannabis sales going is an important priority.

“Both House Leadership and the Administration have been clear, action must be taken in the 2022 General Assembly to regulate the sale of cannabis to adults 21 and older,” Pedini said. “Virginia cannot continue ceding control of the marijuana market to untaxed, illicit operators.”

Pedini said the “current lack of access” to legal cannabis is “untenable.” They said it’s an issue that affects both public and consumer safety. Many
legalization advocates in Virignia have said that the timeline for getting legal cannabis sales started was too long and needed to be shortened.
Despite the fact many Virginia Republicans oppose legalizing cannabis in general, they’re proposing at least one change to current policy that
legalization advocates favor.

“I’m hopeful that the House and Senate are able to reach a compromise on how to move forward with regulating sales,” Pedini said. “While there is
bipartisan agreement that something must be done this session, the now-divided government makes this a very steep hill to climb.”

That said, Republicans don’t appear to be in favor of some of the social equity proposals that many legalization advocates favor.

“A lot of people have been overly penalized and overly policed and overly suffered because of our misguided policies of the past, and it’s time they
stop suffering, and in fact have a chance to make up some lost ground in ways that their lives have been impacted,” said Democratic Sen. Adam Ebbin, a chief sponsor of the 2021 legalization legislation.

Republicans haven’t yet made any changes to the state’s legalization laws, and it will take time for them to debate the changes they want to make.
Pedini said cannabis issues need to be a central focus.

“The state must pass legislation to enact adult-use sales through existing dispensaries, license new operators, continue improving the medical
program, and further seal records related to marijuana possession charges,” Pedini said.