Va.: Gov. Northam signs bill allowing patients to access cannabis flower!

The governor has until March 31 to act on the legalization and expungement bills — write him and urge him to fix the legalization bills today!

Good news! This week, Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation (HB 2218/SB 1333) that will allow registered patients to obtain whole-plant, “botanical” cannabis from medical cannabis dispensaries. The new law, which takes effect on July 1, will make it possible for patients to use cannabis in whatever form they find to be most helpful.

Gov. Northam has until March 31 to take action on the adult-use legalization and expungement bills. Unfortunately, as we informed you previously, the legalization bills still include one very bad provision that would criminalize bringing small amounts of cannabis into the Commonwealth from other jurisdictions. Both HB 2312 and SB 1406 would create a new criminal penalty, punishable by up to a year in jail, for entering Virginia with less than five pounds of cannabis. The bills do not include an exception for one ounce or less of cannabis.

We are also asking Gov. Northam to move the effective date of legalization from 2024 to 2021. If you haven’t already done so, please write Gov. Northam today and encourage him to request these important amendments.

If you’d like to read MPP’s letter to Gov. Northam, click here.

After you write Gov. Northam, please share this message with your friends and family in Virginia.