During Monday’s hearing, Del. Jeff Campbell, R-Smyth, questioned whether Ebbin’s proposal was the “correct vehicle” for creating a legal market in Virginia, “if in fact it’s what we wish to do.” Republicans, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, made clear they did not intend to roll back marijuana legalization in Virginia during the current legislative session, but it remains unclear what they see as the future for marijuana policy in Virginia.
“I think this is a bigger issue than we can correct in two weeks’ time,” Campbell said. “The imperative is that we continue to study this over the year trying to get this right.”
Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, said there are still a lot of “cross-wires on this issue.” The subcommittee she chairs voted 5-3 along party lines to punt Ebbin’s bill to 2023.
Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter reiterated that the governor does not want to overturn legalization of marijuana but “has serious concerns” about the original legislation. “The House and Senate have been unable to make progress on these issues,” Porter said.
The Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which supported the bill, called it “an incredible disappointment.”
“The only benefit with the failure of this legislation was to the illicit market,” said JM Pedini, the executive director of Virginia NORML.
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