The Virginia General Assembly’s new Joint Commission on Cannabis Oversight held its first meeting on Tuesday, and members expressed their interest in speeding up the process to legalize the retail sale of recreational marijuana across the Commonwealth.

Despite the fact that recreational marijuana use was legalized earlier this year in Virginia, legal retail is not scheduled to start in Virginia until 2024 under the Commonwealth’s current law. This means Virginians who choose to consume marijuana are likely still violating the law while purchasing it.

“I think the sooner we can get some sales out there so people aren’t breaking the law by buying and selling the better,” said Delegate Paul Krizek (D-44).

During the legislative process that legalized marijuana across the state, the legalization of retail distribution was delayed until 2024 to give the Commonwealth enough time to create infrastructure for a marijuana marketplace.

“If we go down that route, let’s really be careful,” said Delegate Charniele Herring (D-46), stating that she would oppose changes that would counteract the social equity provisions previous legislation had. “[…]we do not want to make the mistakes of the past, where it’s not in the spirit of what was intended.”

Part of the reason that retail sales were initially delayed until 2024 was so that the legislature could create infrastructure to equitably address how marijuana laws have disproportionately impacted Black and brown communities. 

Some activists have expressed support for accelerating the legalization of retail sales while others have expressed similar concerns to Herring’s. Expediting the process could potentially lead to the destruction of the foundations laid for equity. 

The process of legalizing retail sales is likely to be determined by the House of Delegates and gubernatorial elections this November. If Republicans regain control of the House of Delegates and win the Governor’s Mansion, they will likely make efforts to roll back the legalization of marijuana by preventing retail sales from becoming legal in 2024. Possession and consumption of the substance would likely still remain legal, but the purchase of it would not. If Democrats maintain control of the House of Delegates and the Governor’s Mansion, the date will likely remain 2024 or potentially be even sooner.