Gov. Glenn Youngkin has once again thwarted a bipartisan effort to establish a regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis retail market in Virginia, vetoing a key proposal that would have created the framework for such a system. He also rejected measures designed to modify sentences for individuals convicted of marijuana-related offenses and protect legal cannabis users from discrimination in child custody battles.
Youngkin’s vetoes dealt another blow to cannabis reform advocates, who argue that the governor’s opposition to these measures continues to favor the status quo of unregulated marijuana sales. Cannabis is legal in Virginia for personal use, but the state still lacks a retail system that would allow legal, regulated and taxed sales.
The centerpiece of the vetoed legislation was House Bill 2485, sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, who expressed disappointment over Youngkin’s second veto of a bill that he said would have not only generated millions of dollars for substance abuse treatment and law enforcement but also provided a safe, regulated market for cannabis.
Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, sponsored the cannabis retail legislation in the House. (Photo courtesy of Paul Krizek)
“It’s wrong to allow the criminals to keep making money in this illicit market while pushing dangerous products,” Krizek said in a phone interview Tuesday, adding that a regulated cannabis system could boost state revenue by $300 million annually.
“Virginians deserve a well-regulated and tested market that is taking into account the issues that the governor is concerned with, which is why cannabis regulation will be a key issue in the upcoming gubernatorial campaign.”
Krizek’s legislation, which is identical to Senate Bill 970, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, proposed a timeline for issuing licenses for marijuana cultivation, processing, distribution and retail. It also tasked the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to oversee the new industry. Licenses could have been issued as early as September 2025, with the first retail sales expected no sooner than May 2026.
Virginia made history in 2021 as the first Southern state to legalize small-scale marijuana possession and home cultivation for adults. But while cannabis is legal for personal use, the state has never finalized a plan for commercial sales. With no legal retail market in place, an unregulated underground market has flourished, contributing to safety and health concerns.
Del. Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, a local prosecutor and one of the two Republicans in the House to support Krizek’s proposal, expressed his commitment to sensible cannabis regulation in Virginia. “I have been an advocate for common sense legislation to regulate the adult cannabis market in Virginia,” he said.
Obenshain acknowledged the bipartisan support the bill garnered this year but also noted that many colleagues still had genuine concerns.
“I’ll continue working in a bipartisan fashion until we find the right balance on legislation that can keep Virginians safe while also eliminating the confusing legal regime and proliferation of potentially dangerous products that currently exists,” he added.
Youngkin, who rejected a similar bipartisan measure last year, said in his veto statement that states following this path have seen “adverse effects on children’s and adolescents’ health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration in mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with retail marijuana that far exceed tax revenue.”
The governor further stated that a regulated, legal market place “does not eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis, nor guarantee product safety.”
For advocates like Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice, Youngkin’s rejection is a major setback for public health in Virginia.
“We’re looking at at least another year before we are able to provide Virginia with a tested and regulated market, which would center Virginia’s public health for many consumers,” Wise said.
“Meanwhile, the underground market continues to expand, and federally legal, hemp-derived products flood the state, putting residents at risk. And now this governor this week has just sent a big message to Virginia consumers that our health is not a priority, that keeping our kids safe, keeping us safe, is not a priority for him.”
Justice for past offenders?
Another piece of legislation, HB 2555 by Del. Rozia Henson, D-Woodbridge, would have allowed individuals convicted of certain marijuana-related felonies before 2021 — when marijuana was legalized in Virginia — to receive automatic hearings for sentence modifications if they were still incarcerated or under supervision.
This bill would have applied to convictions for offenses like marijuana possession, manufacturing, or distribution committed before the state’s marijuana legalization laws took effect.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin took action on more than 900 pieces of legislation Monday. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
Youngkin vetoed the proposal, arguing that it “places an undue burden on courts, prosecutors, and victims,” and could allow sentence reductions for individuals convicted of serious crimes, such as fentanyl distribution or selling marijuana to minors. He further emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety and avoiding judicial complications in such cases.
Stephanie Shepard, director of advocacy for the Last Prisoner Project, expressed her frustration with the governor’s move.
“This veto ignores the families still suffering from prohibitionist laws repealed three years ago. Virginia ended cannabis prohibition in 2021, yet many remain incarcerated for offenses that are no longer crimes. This bill was a crucial step toward justice — one the governor has now denied.”
Wise echoed these sentiments, noting that the bill had already been modified to exclude individuals convicted of violent crimes.
“We did change the bill this year to remove people that had violent crimes associated with their sentencing,” she said. “Even with these adjustments, the governor still claims it would be too burdensome on the courts.”
Protecting parents’ rights
Finally, HB 2613, sponsored by Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk, would have ensured that parents’ legal use of cannabis — or other authorized substances—would not be used against them in custody or visitation determinations.
The bill sought to prevent investigations for child abuse or neglect solely based on lawful behavior, such as legal cannabis possession or prescribed medication use. It would have required local social services departments to update their policies to reflect these changes.
Youngkin’s veto statement echoed concerns about child safety, warning that the bill would “risk exposing children to harm.” He argued that legal marijuana use could lead to increased incidents of child endangerment, citing concerns over children ingesting cannabis-infused products.
For Wise, the bill’s veto was a missed opportunity for much-needed reform.
Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice. (Photo courtesy of Marijuana Justice)
“This is a technical fix that should have happened in 2021,” she said. “And it’s not just about marijuana; it’s about ensuring parents aren’t penalized for using authorized substances like methadone or prescription drugs.”
Despite Youngkin’s vetoes, which continue to highlight his resistance to a fully legalized and regulated cannabis market, public support for reform remains strong.
A 2024 Roanoke College poll found that 63% of Virginians back policies that would help small cannabis businesses compete with larger pharmaceutical companies and medical dispensaries.
Even with the latest setbacks, Democratic lawmakers, a small number of Republicans, and cannabis reform advocates are pushing for a renewed effort to establish a retail cannabis market, underscoring the need for consumer protection, tax revenue generation and the reduction of illegal sales.
In a silver lining for advocates, the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution 497, also sponsored by Krizek, establishing a joint commission to oversee what advocates believe to be a transition to an inevitable legal retail cannabis market in Virginia.
The creation of this commission, which does not require the governor’s approval, is set to begin its work this summer and operate until July 1, 2028. It provides a platform for public comment and engagement, ensuring that voices from across the state are heard as the transition moves forward.
“We’ll be able to talk to the legislators in both chambers, and we’ll continue to make edits on our current proposal, so that whatever governor comes in for next year, we will all be on the same page about what we want for Virginia,” Wise said. “And that’s our win for this session.”
And when asked if he plans to introduce the cannabis legislation for a third time next year, Krizek responded with determination: “You bet,” he said. “I think, no matter who the governor is, I feel like we’re going to make it happen. I’m going to make it happen.”
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From last year to now, Virginia raised teacher pay by an average of $3,000. Still, the commonwealth’s average pay rate for educators remains stagnant compared to other states, according to the latest salary report published by the National Education Association.
The commonwealth dropped by one spot to 26th, paying teachers an average of $66,327, an increase from a year ago. Virginia’s average teacher pay is $5,703 below the national average of $72,030, the NEA report states.
Education leaders and lawmakers in the commonwealth said inflation and investments are some of the factors contributing to mixed results in the national salary report.
“Clearly (the report) shows that we have made good improvement in recent years, and we have a long way to go,” said House Education Committee Chair Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke.
Rasoul admitted that the commonwealth is thousands of dollars below the national teacher pay average, “but when we started this journey a few years ago, we were in the bottom third of states, and so we’re approaching where we need to be.”
The Virginia Education Association (VEA), representing the largest group of K-12 teachers in the commonwealth, said that while the national data shows gains have been made in Virginia, pre-kindergarten to higher education teachers are still not making enough to support themselves after being adjusted for inflation.
According to VEA, the average public school teacher salary increased by 3% from the previous year, but when adjusted for inflation, teachers made only $108 more.
“While it might look like teachers are getting support, they are actually losing money, which has a direct impact on student learning,” VEA said.
While recognizing recent gains, VEA president Carol Bauer said Virginia’s teachers are “still losing economic ground” while schools continue weathering the state’s education staffing shortages.
“True historic investment means decisively closing salary gaps, adequately funding schools, and ensuring every classroom has a qualified teacher. Virginia must commit to real, sustained investments to attract and retain educators, rather than relying on incremental gains that barely keep pace with inflation,” Bauer said.
What can Virginia do now?
Virginia has an opportunity to boost educator pay even more, after the General Assembly recommended changes to the state budget.
This week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin will decide whether to support lawmakers’ budget proposal to provide bonuses to teachers and lift a cap on state funding for non-instructional school staff positions. This would give school divisions greater flexibility to hire the staff they need without being “restricted” by outdated student-to-staff ratios.
In 2009, during the Great Recession, lawmakers initiated the cap to reduce state spending on non-instructional school staff positions, including central office and administrative, technical, clerical, maintenance, and instructional support positions.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to comment on the report. However, in the governor’s budget recommendations in March, Youngkin wrote that Virginia has raised teacher pay by 18% over the last three years.
The budget amendments now being considered by the governor contain $166 million more for public education, including $84.7 million to raise the cap.
Last year, state lawmakers formed a joint committee to work on overhauling the Standards of Quality (SOQ), the state’s funding formula determining the financial needs of school divisions, after a state study group found local governments have been shouldering a disproportionate share of K-12 education costs compared to the state’s contributions.
Lawmakers arranged for the state and localities to pay an even split of contributions in 1972, but they changed it in 1993, urging localities to start paying for K-12 fringe benefits.
According to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the state’s share was established at 55%, while localities paid 45%.
What’s next?
House Education Committee Vice Chair Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, carried the support cap bill and budget language to support non-instructional positions.
As a former teacher and school board member, Simonds said a core issue her legislation will address is the administration’s prioritized focus on overhauling testing and accountability measures — part of the administration’s efforts to combat learning loss and raise student testing scores — instead of recruiting and maintaining teachers.
Simonds said some ways to make teaching the best job in Virginia could involve creating competitive pay, treating educators as professionals in the school buildings, and offering maternity leave, professional development and planning periods to collaborate with colleagues.
“The only thing that has been really proven to improve education is highly qualified teachers,” Simonds said. “Having a highly qualified teacher in every classroom is the way we move the needle on test scores for our children.”
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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The content focuses on advocating for higher teacher pay and increased public school funding, highlighting the challenges teachers face with current salaries lagging behind the national average and inflation. It presents perspectives from education advocates and Democratic lawmakers supportive of investing more in public education. While recognizing some progress, the tone calls for more substantial government commitment, aligning with generally progressive stances on public education funding and labor support. The article maintains a factual and policy-oriented approach without extreme rhetoric, situating it in the center-left range.
www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-04-30 14:54:32
SUMMARY: I’m 13 News Now meteorologist Evan Stewart. It’s Wednesday, April 30th, with warm temperatures in the 80s across Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore, over 10° above average. A frontal boundary near North Carolina could trigger isolated showers and thunderstorms later today and into the evening. While severe weather is impacting Texas and nearby areas with tornado risks, Hampton Roads faces a low, level one risk for isolated strong storms. Thursday remains warm with a slight 20% rain chance, and Friday brings more late-day showers and storms. A slow-moving front will increase weekend rain chances, possibly lingering into early next week with cooler weather.
There will be several chances for rain showers and potentially even storms through the weekend.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 12:55:00
(The Center Square) – Virginia just logged one of the sharpest drops in fentanyl deaths in the country — down 44% from last year and nearly cut in half since 2021—Gov. Glenn Youngkin says it’s proof his crackdown is working.
The administration credits everything from drug seizures to tougher laws on dealers, plus a massive naloxone rollout. “Overdose deaths skyrocketed across America and in Virginia, driven primarily by illicit fentanyl flowing across our southern border. With an average of five dying Virginians each day, in 2022, we launched a comprehensive effort to stop the scourge of fentanyl, it’s working, and Virginia is leading,” said Youngkin.
He also tied the drop to border enforcement, echoing President Trump’s argument that immigration policy is key to stopping fentanyl from entering the U.S.
“Our approach stands on four principles: interrupt the drug trade, enhance penalties for drug dealers, educate people about the dangers of fentanyl, and equip them to save the life of someone in crisis,” said Youngkin in astatement.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, fatal overdoses across all substances fell by34.1% in 2024compared to the year before — the sharpest drop since the epidemic peaked in 2021.
Trump’s recent moves include a new order cracking down on sanctuary cities, more troops at the southern border and a pledge to ramp up deportations.
“We have turned the tide in this battle and must now redouble our efforts to build on our success,” said Dr. Colin Greene, Special Advisor on Opioid Response.
In Virginia, Youngkin’s team points to several key efforts behind the numbers. Operation FREE, a joint law enforcement initiative, has seized enough fentanyl to kill every Virginian ten times over, according to the administration. The commonwealth also banned pill presses, expanded penalties for dealers, and now requires schools to notify parents when student overdoses happen.
Since 2022, nearly 400,000 doses of naloxone have been distributed statewide, and almost 100,000 Virginians have been trained to use it. First Lady Suzanne Youngkin’s “It Only Takes One” campaign is also part of the strategy — aimed at raising awareness among families, schools and local communities.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article presents a clear ideological perspective, with a tone that strongly supports Governor Glenn Youngkin’s policies on combating fentanyl deaths. It emphasizes the success of Youngkin’s efforts, such as drug seizures, tougher laws, and border enforcement, which aligns with conservative viewpoints, particularly regarding immigration policy and law enforcement. The framing of the issue—highlighting Youngkin’s leadership and drawing connections to President Trump’s immigration stance—reinforces a right-leaning narrative, suggesting that tougher border control is key to solving the fentanyl crisis. The article does not present significant counterpoints or explore opposing viewpoints on these measures, which could balance the coverage. Overall, the content reflects a pro-administration stance, particularly aligning with the policies of the Republican Party.
