Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoes bill that would legalize weed sales in Virginia declaring cannabis ‘bad’ and a gateway to gang activity and violent crime

Virginia’s Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, vetoed a bill that would have legalized the sale of marijuana in the commonwealth.

Legislation to create a commercial marijuana retail market in the state passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year.

He would have allowed sales to begin next year, but the Republican governor said “cannabis is bad” for the state.

‘YOIn every other state that has had an extensive retail market, what you see is, first of all, it’s terrible for the health and safety of children and teens, massive increases in childhood poisonings, massive increases in by teenagers,” Youngkin said in an interview with a local WJLA-TV reporter.

“And of course, when you combine that with the fact that the potency of cannabis today is dangerous, it leads to mental health problems and mental health illnesses to the point of psychosis,” he continued.

Youngkin also stated that states with marijuana sales have seen a “systematic increase” in violent crime.

“Cannabis is bad for Virginia, the law enforcement community doesn’t want it, healthcare workers don’t want it and let me tell you, parents don’t want it in their children’s lives,” Youngkin said.

In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana possession for adults ages 21 and older under then-Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, but gridlock had prevented the state from establishing a retail sales market since then.

Earlier this year, Youngkin said he really had no “interest” in it and did not say how he would support the bill as it moved through the state legislature.

The bill would have allowed Virginia to begin accepting sales applications as early as September, with markets opening in May 2025.

After vetoing the bill, Youngkin dismissed the argument that the measure would increase revenue in the state, saying that was not the case in Colorado.

Marijuana sales in Colorado since legalization in 2014 have totaled more than $15 billion, and taxes collected on sales total more than $2.5 billion, a small fraction of the state’s overall budget.

In Virginia, the sale of products would have been taxed at a rate of up to 11.625 percent, of which 8 percent would go to the state, 2.5 percent would be a local option tax, and 1.125 percent would go to to K-12 education.

Democrats control both the state House and Senate and the legislation largely advanced along partisan lines, with only a few Republicans backing it.

Marijuana is legal for medical use in 38 states and Washington, DC and for recreational use in 24 states.