Once again, like last year, Governor Glenn Youngkin has vetoed proposed bills that aimed to create a legal framework for recreational marijuana sales in Virginia. These bills, which sought to regulate and tax cannabis retail, represented what many saw as a logical next step after the state legalized the possession, cultivation, and gifting of small amounts of cannabis for adults in July 2021.
However, Youngkin’s veto not only halts progress on a regulated system but also sets Virginia apart as a state stuck in a legal gray area. Despite the governor’s claims, his decision reflects outdated prohibitionist rhetoric, pits him against the will of his constituents, and leaves Virginia’s cannabis market in a state of chaos.
Rationale Behind the Veto of Regulated Marijuana Sales in Virginia
Governor Youngkin has cited public health and safety concerns as the core reasons for rejecting the legislation. According to his veto statement, “The proposed legalization of retail marijuana in the Commonwealth endangers Virginians’ health and safety.” He pointed to what he called the “failed paths” of other states, claiming that those with legal cannabis markets have experienced increases in violent crime, gang activity, mental health issues, and risks to road safety.
Youngkin also emphasized that legal sales do not eliminate the illicit market and argued that regulatory costs far outweigh tax revenue. While these points echo long-standing claims from those opposed to cannabis legalization, they fail to align with evidence from states that have established legal frameworks. Studies show that legal marijuana markets reduce illicit sales, create safer products, and generate significant tax revenue—funds that can be reinvested in public safety, education, and health initiatives.
Virginia’s Legal Limbo of Marijuana Sales
Since 2021, cannabis has been legal for adults to possess, grow, and gift in Virginia. Yet, there is no legal marketplace to purchase cannabis. This absence of regulation has led to an illicit market estimated to be worth $3 billion annually. Smoke shops and unlicensed sellers operate unchecked, often providing products with unknown potency and quality. These conditions increase risk for consumers, especially when safety and dosage cannot be guaranteed.
By vetoing the proposed bills, Youngkin ensures that this unchecked, unregulated market continues to dominate. Consumers remain vulnerable, and the state forfeits potential tax revenue that could total hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Governor Youngkin is, in effect, leaving public health and safety at greater risk—not protecting it.
Youngkin’s decision to veto these measures directly contradicts the will of the people he was elected to serve. A 2024 Roanoke College poll found that 63% of Virginians support policies to regulate and legalize recreational cannabis sales. Public support spans both ends of the political spectrum, with many Virginians acknowledging the social, economic, and legal benefits of a regulated market.
Yet the governor’s decision dismisses this majority opinion in favor of ideology rooted in historical stigmas surrounding cannabis. By vetoing these bills, Youngkin alienates a large percentage of his constituency, including those who view a regulated system as a practical approach to public safety and fairness.
The Rhetoric of Fear Versus the Reality of Regulation
Youngkin’s rhetoric is steeped in fear of what could go wrong rather than acknowledging what has already gone wrong under prohibition-like policies. He frames marijuana legalization as a threat to children, suggesting that legal sales would increase cannabis exposure among adolescents. This unfounded alarm ignores evidence that regulation allows states to implement strict age restrictions and educational campaigns.
States which have legal marijuana markets, have demonstrated that legalization does not lead to increased teen usage. Instead, these programs provide safer conditions for adult consumers and create funding for public health programs.
Furthermore, Youngkin’s suggestion that legal marijuana markets fail to eliminate the illicit market ignores a significant nuance. While illicit-market activity may not disappear overnight, it diminishes substantially when consumers have access to quality-assured, regulated products. Virginia’s lack of a legal market gives the black market an unnecessary monopoly, enabling criminal activity rather than curbing it.
Beyond the issue of retail sales, Youngkin’s hardline stance obstructs broader reforms tied to cannabis policy. The vetoed legislation included measures designed to address past injustices, such as sentence modifications for individuals incarcerated on marijuana-related convictions before 2021.
These proposals were not about incentivizing crime; they aimed to rectify harm caused by outdated prohibition laws, ensuring a fairer legal system. Yet, the governor dismissed these efforts as burdensome, ignoring how those punitive laws harmed families and communities—particularly communities of color, disproportionately targeted by drug enforcement.
Moving Forward
Governor Youngkin’s veto is a roadblock for marijuana reform advocates, but it is unlikely to silence the conversation. The proposed retail system would have allowed cannabis sales to begin as early as 2026 and provided licenses to operate under the oversight of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The push for reform will continue, as lawmakers, advocates, and voters work to find alternative avenues.
A silver lining might lie in the creation of the Joint Commission established by the Virginia General Assembly to oversee the transition to a legal cannabis market. While the governor’s refusal to act has delayed progress, this commission provides a platform to refine legislative proposals, engage the public, and prepare for future administrations that may adopt a more forward-thinking stance.
Governor Youngkin’s veto of cannabis sales legislation is not just a political decision—it represents an inability to align with the values and priorities of most Virginians. His statements reflect outdated arguments that ignore the evidence and success stories from other states. By refusing to act, Youngkin sustains a system that endangers public health, strengthens the illicit market, and denies Virginians the economic benefits of regulated cannabis sales.
If the governor truly wants to protect public safety, boost the economy, and serve his constituents, he should look to the facts, not fear, and support responsible cannabis legislation. Until then, the conversation will continue, and so will the fight for a fair and regulated future in Virginia.
