Feb 02, 2021
cannabis legalization, cannabis legalization bills, committees, crossover deadline, Finance/Appropriations Committee, HB 2312, legislative session, SB 1406, Tax and Regulate, VA, Virginia, Virginians
The legislative session is scheduled to end on February 11 — urge delegates and senators to end cannabis prohibition before the clock runs out!
Virginia’s cannabis legalization bills — HB 2312 and SB 1406 — have passed two committees each, but there is still much work to be done, and the outcome remains uncertain. Both bills must be considered by a third committee, Finance/Appropriations. Then, at least one of these bills needs to pass the House or Senate by this Friday’s “crossover deadline” to have a chance of passing both chambers before the session concludes on February 11.
MPP has been working to persuade legislators to improve these bills during the committee process. In particular, we are pleased that HB 2312 no longer increases penalties for public consumption and possession by those who are underage. We will continue pushing legislators to ensure that any bill, when finalized, will truly serve the interests of all Virginians, including medical patients and individuals from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.
You can read a summary of HB 2312 here and a summary of SB 1406 here. Both bills remain works in progress, but we are confident that legislators will continue to improve the language as they move forward.
After you write your delegates and senators, please share this important message with your friends and family.