Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two high Democratic legislative priorities on Thursday: payments that will have allowed the recreational retail sales of marijuana to start subsequent yr and measures mandating a minimal wage improve.
The event didn’t come as a shock. Whereas Youngkin had not explicitly threatened to veto both set of payments, he advised reporters he didn’t suppose the minimal wage invoice was wanted and had repeatedly mentioned he was bored with organising retail marijuana gross sales.
In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana, adopting a coverage change that allowed adults age 21 and as much as possess and domesticate the drug. However the state didn’t arrange retail gross sales on the time and nonetheless hasn’t, as a consequence of shifts in partisan energy and coverage variations since then.
Advocates say the disconnect is permitting the illicit market to flourish, whereas opponents have security well being and security considerations with additional increasing entry to the drug. In an announcement, Youngkin mentioned he shared these 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 mentioned in a veto assertion hooked up to the payments.
At the moment in Virginia, dwelling cultivation and grownup sharing of the drug are authorized. And sufferers who obtain a written certification from a well being care supplier should purchase medical hashish from a dispensary.
Underneath the payments, the state would have began taking functions on Sept. 1 for cultivating, testing, processing and promoting the drug in preparation for the market to open Might 1, 2025, with merchandise taxed at a charge of as much as 11.625%.
The laws was supported by a variety of business pursuits and opposed by non secular and socially conservative teams.
Virginia first took on legalization at a time when Democrats had been in full management of state authorities. Elections later that yr modified that, with Youngkin successful and Republicans taking management of the Home of Delegates for 2 years, although Democrats are actually again in full management of the statehouse.
Whereas there was some Republican legislative help because the 2021 session for organising authorized leisure gross sales, bills to do so have failed in 2022 and 2023.
As for the wage laws, which might have elevated the present $12-per-hour minimal wage to $13.50 on Jan. 1, 2025, after which to $15 on Jan. 1, 2026, Youngkin mentioned the payments would “imperil market freedom and economic competitiveness.”
The payments would “implement drastic wage mandates, raise costs on families and small businesses, jeopardize jobs, and fail to recognize regional economic differences across Virginia,” he mentioned in a information launch.
Virginia Democrats started an effort to extend the minimal wage in 2020. They passed legislation that year — which took impact with a delay as a result of coronavirus pandemic — establishing incremental will increase as much as $12, with additional bumps requiring one other Meeting vote.
They and different advocates have argued the laws would assist working households afford fundamental requirements and sustain with inflation.
Youngkin took motion on a complete of 107 payments Thursday, in accordance with his workplace. He signed 100, together with measures that his workplace mentioned would “strengthen law enforcement’s ability to prosecute child predators and expand Department of Corrections inmate access to quality health services.”
Apart from the marijuana and wage payments, he vetoed three others. One would have eliminated an exemption for farmworkers from the state’s minimal wage legislation.
One other would have required that roughly 315 people incarcerated or on group supervision with a felony marijuana conviction obtain a sentencing overview, in accordance with Youngkin’s workplace.
“Ninety-seven inmates convicted of a violent felony offense, such as first and second-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery, would be eligible for a reduced sentence under this proposal,” he mentioned in his veto assertion.
Thursday’s ultimate veto got here for a invoice that handled the kind of proof that may be thought-about in sure staff’ compensation claims. The governor mentioned present legislation gives a “balanced approach” whereas the proposal would “create a disproportionate imbalance in favor of one party.”
The part-time Basic Meeting adjourned its regular session earlier this month and can meet once more in Richmond for a one-day session April 17 to think about Youngkin’s proposed amendments to laws. They may additionally try and override a number of vetoes, a transfer that requires a 2/3 vote of each chambers, that are solely narrowly managed by Democrats.
The marijuana laws superior principally alongside social gathering traces, and the minimal wage payments handed strictly on social gathering traces, that means any override try can be nearly sure to fail.
Youngkin introduced the vetoes a day after the public collapse of one in all his high legislative priorities: a deal to convey the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards to Alexandria. The groups’ majority proprietor introduced they might as an alternative be staying in D.C.
