Virginia Advances Bill To Help Prior Cannabis Offenders, Now It's Up To Gov. Youngkin
Members of the Virginia House of Delegates have passed SB 696, a measure aimed at helping individuals with prior cannabis convictions. The bill, already approved by the state Senate, allows for resentencing hearings for those with past marijuana offenses. It gives the court the power to potentially reduce penalties, including time served and removal from community supervision, unless it conflicts with public interest. Additionally, other cannabis-related bills, like measures setting up marijuana sales, have been sent to Gov. Youngkin for review. While the governor's stance on the issue is unclear, Sen. Rouse expressed pride in the bipartisan effort behind the bills. An agreement had been reached to allow all retailers into the cannabis market by March 2025, but the launch date may be delayed to no earlier than May 2025 as per the latest version of SB 448.
