A House panel in Virginia has voted to advance amended legislation that would legalize retail marijuana sales in the state, sending the bill to the chamber floor. A separate bill with somewhat different provisions is proceeding in the Senate, however, setting up potentially contentious negotiations as the session proceeds.
The House General Laws Committee on Tuesday voted 10–8 to report the measure, HB 698, from Rep. Paul Krizek (D), with one member abstaining. In its current form, the bill would allow licensed retailers—existing medical marijuana dispensaries as well as dozens of equity-focused microbusinesses—to open for adult-use sales on January 1, 2025, with more outlets slated to launch over the course of the year.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), however, said last month that he doesn’t have “any interest” in legalizing sales under either of the Democrat-led plans.
“This essentially will establish a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana marketplace in the commonwealth,” Krizek said in brief comments at Tuesday’s House committee hearing, noting that a subcommittee he chairs that heard the bill last week made a number of amendments in a substitute bill.
While the text of that substitute is not yet available, it made a handful of changes
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