Governor Glenn Youngkin has put an end to two legislative priorities that had been sent to his desk by Democrats in the General Assembly.
Measures to mandate increasing the state’s minimum wage, as well as a pathway to recreational sales of marijuana in the state were both rejected by Youngkin on Thursday.
The Associated Press reported:
The development, which drew criticism from Democrats who control the General Assembly, did not come as a surprise. While Youngkin had not explicitly threatened to veto either set of bills, he told reporters he didn’t think the minimum wage legislation was needed and had repeatedly said he was uninterested in setting up retail marijuana sales.
In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana, adopting a policy change that allowed adults age 21 and up to possess and cultivate the drug. But the state didn’t set up retail sales at the time and still hasn’t, due to shifts in partisan power and policy differences since then.
Advocates say the disconnect is allowing the illicit market to flourish, while opponents have health and safety concerns with further expanding access to the drug. In a statement, Youngkin said he shared those worries.
“States following this path have seen adverse effects on children’s and adolescent’s 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. It also does not eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis, nor guarantee product safety,” he said in a veto statement attached to the bills.
These bills are added to the rapidly growing list of bills vetoed by the Governor this week. Over 30 anti-gun bills rammed through the legislature this year were also vetoed by Youngkin on Tuesday.