Virginia lawmakers give final nod to bill for legalising marijuana in 2024

Virginia lawmakers gave final approval Saturday to a bill that will legalise marijuana for adult recreational use, but not until 2024, when retail sales of the drug would also begin.

With a compromise bill clearing the House and Senate, Virginia becomes the first Southern state to vote to legalise marijuana, joining 15 other states and the District of Columbia. The legislation now goes to Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, who supports legalisation.

The bill was a top priority for Democrats, who framed legalisation as a necessary step to end the disparate treatment of people of colour under current marijuana laws. But talks between Democrats in the House and Senate grew tense in recent days, and a compromise version of the massive bill did not emerge publicly until late Saturday afternoon.

It's been a lot of work to get here, but I would say that we're on the path to an equitable law allowing responsible adults to use cannabis," said Sen. Adam Ebbin, the chief sponsor of the Senate bill. He said the compromise agreement is a good start.

Several Democrats said they hoped Northam would send the legislation back to them with amendments, including speeding up the date for legalisation.

Under the legislation that passed, possession of up to an ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana will become legal beginning January 1, 2024, at the same time sales will begin and regulations will go into effect to control the marijuana marketplace in Virginia.

Under a provision Senate Democrats insisted on, the legislation will include a reenactment clause that will require a second vote from the General Assembly, but only on the regulatory framework and criminal penalties for several offenses, including underage use and public consumption of marijuana. A second vote will not be required on legalisation.

The Senate had sought to legalise simple possession this year to immediately end punishments for people with small amounts of marijuana, but House Democrats argued that legalisation without a legal market for marijuana could promote the growth of the black market.

Lawmakers last year decriminalised marijuana, making simple possession a civil penalty that can be punished by a fine of no more than USD 25.

The three-year delay in legalising simple possession drew sharp criticism from some lawmakers, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, Marijuana Justice and other racial justice advocacy groups.

This bill does not advance the cause of equal justice or racial justice in Virginia. It is the product of a closed-door legislative process that has prioritized the interests of recreational marijuana smokers over people and communities of colour, the groups said in a statement before the vote.

Groups that opposed legalisation entirely have said they are concerned that it could result in an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes and the use of marijuana among youth.

Republican lawmakers spoke against the measure Saturday night, saying such a critical issue deserved a less rushed approach.

"I would say there are not more than two or three members of this body that have a clue about the comprehensiveness of what this bill does," said Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment.