“I was proud to cast the equalizing vote to legalize marijuana and provide justice, fairness, equity and opportunity to the people of our great Commonwealth.”
The bill was originally passed in late February, but Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam sent it to the legislature with a series of revisions, including a proposal to accelerate the timeline of its entry into force until July instead of 2024.
“Marijuana laws are explicitly designed to paint colors on communities, and black Virginians are likely to be discontinued, charged and convicted. Today, Virginia has taken a critical step to correct this injustice and restore justice to those who have been harmed by decades of criminalization. “
“If this policy change is to be undertaken, it must be undertaken with caution, and I understand the enormous pressure on the majority party to make this change immediately. I understand that opposing immediate legislation and legalizing many of your constituents ‘And I understand that taking the time to do this right could possibly lead to complaints of racism,’ he said.
“But we have to do it right. And to do it right takes time.”
Advocates for legalization have long praised the correction of criminal offenses in the past, which eliminated illegal market activities and generated additional tax revenue when they insisted on the repeal of laws on state cannabis.
“I really believe that we are going to see a very significant and important movement come out of this while states and governors are looking for a way to strengthen their economy.”
Cannabis sales in states that legalized the plant for medical and recreational purposes amounted to about $ 15 billion in 2019 and are expected to reach $ 30 billion in 2024, according to data from BDS Analytics, which tracks pharmacist sales.
CNN’s Alicia Wallace contributed to this report.