❌ "Governor @GovernorVA@SpanbergerForVA's veto is a profound disappointment to the many Virginia voters who believed her when she said on the campaign trail that she supported establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis market. It is also a slap in the face to the years of serious work undertaken by lawmakers, policy experts, advocates, public health stakeholders, and regulators who spent more than half a decade researching, debating, and carefully crafting this legislation."
🔗Read more: https://t.co/CZHgxzamQp
✅ For years, Virginians have remained behind bars for marijuana even after legalization became law. @GovernorVA@SpanbergerForVA called these newly signed resentencing measures "an issue of fairness and justice." Virginians will now see whether that same commitment extends to signing the adult-use retail sales bills.
🔗 Read more: https://t.co/vTsqimEO2u
Marijuana Groups Urge Virginia Governor Not To Veto Sales Legalization Bill, Even After Lawmakers Rejected Her Amendments: "We respectfully urge you to allow the Commonwealth to move forward with a safer, smarter, and more accountable cannabis policy."
https://t.co/ja2Hhm3xLY
🌿 While today's order specifically addresses policy changes for state-licensed medical cannabis, it also states that "unlicensed bulk marijuana" remains classified as a Schedule I.
🔗 Read more from @NORML: https://t.co/uPgD0lb2TL
👎 Lawmakers declined to consider Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger's proposed amendments to the adult-use retail sales bill.
"Governor Spanberger's substitute bill would have reversed years of progress in Virginia," said @NORML's JM Pedini. "Passage of these amendments would have resulted in a return to racially discriminatory marijuana policing across the commonwealth, while also compromising public safety by continuing to drive Virginians to the unregulated market for at least another year."
https://t.co/AZ9IT5pRZT
Virginia Lawmakers Reject Governor's Amendments To Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill: "While the governor and I share the goal of establishing a safe, regulated cannabis market, we differ on how best to achieve it."
https://t.co/p2EFugNUD7
“The governor’s proposed amendments would repeal a number of those decriminalization laws and undermine what has been a thorough, thoughtful, balanced process of drafting this legislation with community and stakeholder engagement” says Del. @KrizekForVA
🚫 “The substitute moves Virginia in the wrong direction and disregards years of data-driven, bipartisan work and established best practices. For that reason, I will be recommending its rejection,” Senator @lashrecseaird told @MarijuanaMoment. https://t.co/tsS02xxg5g
🚨 Despite having previously acknowledged her support for legalizing retail cannabis sales, @GovernorVA Spanberger sent back a substitute bill that proposes the repeal of numerous decriminalization and legalization provisions. State lawmakers will consider her proposed amendments on April 22.
📩 TAKE ACTION: Send a message to your Senator and Delegate now with just a few quick clicks, urging them to oppose amendments that recriminalize consumers and delay safe, legal access >> https://t.co/L15WeYGgsW
Virginia Marijuana Bill Sponsors Push Back Against Governor's Proposed Changes: Gov. Abigail Spanberger's (D) amendment "substantially introduces harsh escalating criminal penalties that risk repeating the very harm legalization was meant to correct."
https://t.co/QQ1w3SVOdL
🚨 @GovernorVA isn't just proposing amendments. She is proposing the repeal of numerous bipartisan legislative efforts to end racially discriminatory marijuana policing in Virginia.
🔗 Read more: https://t.co/3g7MXAwO0R
🎉 "This is a significant victory for Virginia parents who consume cannabis responsibly," JM Pedini, development director for the advocacy group @NORML and executive director for @VANORML, told @MarijuanaMoment. "It's taken seven legislative sessions to secure these most basic protections and prevent courts from needlessly separating children from their families."
https://t.co/tIMkwxGHlv
Marijuana Reform Group Polls Consumers About Freedoms Where They Live Ahead Of 4/20: "In some jurisdictions, cannabis comes with real freedom. In others, it still comes with real consequences."
https://t.co/VrBRCAeSEO
🚨"Virginians deserve a system that protects consumers and prevents access by those under age. That is why the governor should sign SB 542 | HB 642 as written and without further delay."
https://t.co/jj0TZElZIS
Common sense for the W!
“Any delay in implementation continues to drive consumers to the illicit market, jeopardizes public safety and delays the tools needed by law enforcement and regulators to address these concerns.” - JM Pedini @NORML
https://t.co/46CA9GfnOe
Virginia Governor Should Sign Marijuana Bill Without Delaying Launch Of Legal Sales (Op-Ed): "Any delay in implementation continues to drive consumers to the illicit market, jeopardizes public safety and delays the tools needed by law enforcement."
https://t.co/gCpo1mRxGW
🌿 Cannabis freedom depends on where you live.
With 4/20 approaching, NORML is asking: Where you live, how free do you feel to consume cannabis?
Take the 2-minute Cannabis Freedom Survey >> https://t.co/lhp0uK4NyJ