Virginia became the 16th state in the United States to legalize recreational pot (cannabis) for adult use. With it, Virginia also became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana. In July, the law was approved by governor Ralph Northam who proposed changes to the bill that allowed adults to possess and cultivate small amounts of cannabis. This not only was a big move for Virginia but the people of color as well because according to the Democrats, the bill was a matter of urgency; they said that it was the right and the necessary step to end the disparate treatment towards the people of color under the current marijuana laws.
With the final version of the legalization, any adult above 21 years of age can legally possess up to 1 oz (28.3 gms) of cannabis with him without the intent to distribute it. Other than pot possession, the law would also allow adults to cultivate up to four plants per household from July 1 onwards. Although the use of marijuana has been legalized, its public use remains prohibited. But seeing that Virginia is the first Southern state to legalize marijuana says volumes about not just the state but also the lawmakers. Thanks to this new bill, adults won’t have to be arrested for possession and usage of marijuana. But this new bill has brought a new change in how the people of color are treated and viewed in the US; with this law, they can be more accessible and will be treated equally.
Even though marijuana has been legalized in Virginia, it would still take years for the retail and commercial sales of pot. And according to the official data, the retail sales of marijuana can begin from January 1, 2024, onwards. The Virginia marijuana legalization bill also lays out a very complex layout and process of creating a new state agency that would oversee the marijuana marketplace. It would take a few years before we see the regulations taking effect.
Reference:
Rankin, S.A.R.A.H. 2021. Virginia-1st-southern-state-legalize-marijuana-2346aa3ee52ce43f79b712c14346764d. 7 April. Virginia becomes first Southern state to legalize marijuana. [Online]. [3 May 2021]. Available from: https://apnews.com/article/virginia-1st-southern-state-legalize-marijuana-2346aa3ee52ce43f79b712c14346764d