Youngkin amendments impact sale of cannabis products, marijuana penalties

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)-Governor Glenn Youngkin is amending a bill impacting what cannabis products can be sold in Virginia and possibly setting new misdemeanor penalties for marijuana possession.

It’s the first time Youngkin is taking a formal stance in some thorny debates: navigating punishments under recreational marijuana legalization and reining in a largely unregulated hemp industry.

“We protected Virginians from potentially harmful synthetically-modified substances while preserving the market for regulated CBD products currently available,” Youngkin said in a statement on Monday night. “I call on the General Assembly to adopt these changes and quickly enact them into law so that they can benefit all residents of the Commonwealth.”

So far, the Governor is getting mixed reviews.

So far, the Governor is getting mixed reviews.

Some say the bill remains overly restrictive and will “re-active The War on Drugs.”

Meanwhile, at least one shop that sells CBD in Richmond is cautiously optimistic.

“About 40 percent of our CBD product inventory would’ve been illegal July 1st had the bill passed unamended. This will be very helpful for us and other small businesses in the state,” said Chris Haynie, co-founder of Happy Trees Agricultural Supply.

Those comments come after Governor Youngkin scrapped new proposed per serving and per container limits on THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. Many in the hemp industry said the caps could’ve forced helpful products off of the shelves. [Read More @ WAVY.com]