Virginia marijuana market rumors ‘unequivocally false’, state reps say

Sponsors of state budget language creating Virginia’s retail marijuana market are debunking what they called “inaccurate reports and social media claims” that the language jumpstarted the sales a year ahead of schedule and essentially relaxed enforcement of the state’s pot laws, including those addressing underage selling.

In a statement released July 9, Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Henrico County, and Del. Paul Krizek, D-Alexandria, blamed the barrage of claims on opponents of the market, which launches July 1, 2027. They said the budget language does the opposite of what opponents say it does – providing strong age-restrictions among other regulations on selling marijuana.

Claims that the state has already begun selling cannabis and that people from North Carolina are crossing the state line into Virginia to buy “are unequivocally false,” they said.

“Unfortunately, misinformation spreads quickly, particularly when it involves complex legislation,” Aird said in the statement.

Added Krizek: “The budget language passed by the General Assembly did not legalize cannabis possession by minors, did not legalize the distribution of cannabis to minors and did not eliminate Virginia’s criminal penalties protecting young people. The enactment clauses included in the budget did not change those protections.”

What led to cannabis clarification?

Rumors began circulating about the uncertainty of the budget language last month when The Marijuana Herald, an online news site, reported that the budget language creating the market contained unverified information about how it will be created and regulated.

Market language was added to the state budget after Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation passed by the 2026 General Assembly. After that controversial veto, Aird and Krizek began working with the governor to craft language into the budget proposal in lieu of the failed legislation.

Republicans, who largely opposed the market language, accused Democrats of trying to ram the budget through without carefully vetting it. That led to social-media chatter, such as a post on X from Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick County, that claimed Virginia State Police were ordered “to stand down on marijuana enforcement” once the budget went into effect July 1.

Former state Attorney General Jason Miyares also posted on X that the budget legalized marijuana commercialization “in the worst possible way.”

“Governor Abigail Spanberger and the far-left majority in the General Assembly jammed their marijuana retail scheme into the state budget instead of allowing it to go through the normal legislative process, where it could have received the scrutiny it deserved,” Miyares posted, citing a comment from the former president of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys that the “sloppy” drafting of the budget has led to prosecutors believing that pot cases involving underage suspects can no longer be prosecuted.

An ‘honest conversation’ about policy

Aird and Krizek issued their response, they said, because “Virginians deserve an honest conversation about cannabis policy.”

“The adult-use framework passed by the General Assembly includes strict age-verification requirements, mandatory product testing, child-resistant packaging, clear labeling, licensing requirements, and robust enforcement tools to combat the illicit market,” Krizek said. “Those protections were deliberately designed to reduce youth access, protect consumers and provide strong oversight of our marketplace.”

“Our priority throughout this process has always been centered on protecting young people, and public health and safety,” Aird added.

The legislators closed their statement by directing people to the Virginia Code section that spells out the market structure and regulation.

“Any future reference to the new cannabis laws should be based on the text of the Code itself and not speculation,” they wrote.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) has won numerous awards during his 40-year journalism career. A Petersburg native, Bill is a 1984 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a degree in mass communications. He specializes in coverage of breaking news, crime, government, and local/state/national politics. He is an avid history buff and a lifelong Washington Commanders fan. Reach him at [email protected] with news tips and story suggestions.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia marijuana market rumors ‘unequivocally false’, state reps say

Reporting by Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index / The Progress-Index
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