Virginia voters have the chance to decide on whether their next governor will be someone who supports or opposes legalizing recreational marijuana sales in the commonwealth—with the two major party nominees holding diametrically opposed views on the future of cannabis policy.
Early in-person voting begins on Friday in an election that could prove determinative in whether adult consumers will be able to purchase marijuana from legal and regulated stores.
While the legislature has twice passed bills to create a regulated commercial cannabis market after the state legalized possession, use and personal home cultivation by adults in 2022, current Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed both proposals.
The GOP nominee, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R), has staunchly opposed allowing Virginia to create a commercial adult-use cannabis market, going so far as to say that marijuana is a gateway drug and suggesting that legalization is “decimating communities.”
Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is on the other side of the spectrum, expressing her interest, if elected, in working with the legislature to develop a system of regulated sales consistent with what the majority of voters support.
“As Virginia takes steps toward creating a legalized retail market for cannabis,” the congresswoman told Marijuana Moment
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