Virginia lawmakers pass law that will legalize marijuana in 2024

Virginia lawmakers approved a bill on Saturday that would legalize the sale and recreational use of marijuana – but not until 2024.

This landmark decision makes Virginia the first southern state to vote to legalize marijuana, joining 15 other states and the District of Columbia. The legislation now goes to Democratic Governor Ralph Northam, who supports legalization, for his signature.

“It took a lot of work to get here, but I would say we are on the way to a fair law allowing responsible adults to consume cannabis,” said Senator Adam Ebbin, the main sponsor of the Senate. Associated press.

Virginia House President Eileen Filler-Corn applauded colleagues in both houses for passing the measure.

“The House and Senate have taken a decisive step in legalizing the sale and possession of marijuana here in the Commonwealth,” said Filler-Corn on Twitter. “This legislation will make our criminal justice system fairer and help end the targeting of black and brown communities for cannabis possession.”

Still, some Democrats like Senator Jennifer McClellan have called on Northam to amend the bill, including legalizing marijuana earlier.

“We still have a long way to go to ensure we address the disproportionate impact of marijuana prohibition on black and brown communities,” McClellan tweeted. She called on Governor Northam to amend the bill so that simple possession becomes legal this year.

Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said the governor “looks forward to continuing to improve this legislation”.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but this bill will help reinvest in our communities and reduce inequalities in our criminal justice system,” Yarmosky told NBC Washington.

Under the law as passed, possession of up to one ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana will become legal as of January 1, 2024. At the same time, sales will begin and regulations will come into effect to control the marijuana market in Virginia.

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

Lawmakers decriminalized marijuana last year, making simple possession a civil penalty that can be punished with a fine of up to $ 25.

Despite major reforms to the bill, the United States Civil Liberties Union of Virginia said the new legislation did not go far enough to “break the shackles of the marijuana ban.”

“The Virginia General Assembly did not legalize marijuana for racial justice. Lawmakers have paid lip service to communities that have suffered decades of harm from the racist war on drugs with legislation that fails to respond to fair reform and delays justice, ”said the American Freedoms Union civilians of Virginia.

The Associated Press contributed.