Virginia’s Cannabis Legalization Work Group Releases Recommendations

The Virginia Marijuana Legalization Work Group, which was tasked with studying the impact of adult-use legalization in the state, released its recommendations Nov. 30, according to a WTVR.com report.

The group, which was made up of community leaders, healthcare professionals, policy experts and members of Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration, was created by lawmakers as part of a cannabis decriminalization bill that became law earlier this year, the news outlet reported.

RELATED: Virginia Will Decriminalize Cannabis on July 1

The roughly 400-page report outlines guidelines for taxation, banking, criminal justice, licensing, regulation and consumer safety, according to WTVR.com, and includes recommendations on five key principles that Northam wants to see in a final legalization bill: social, racial and economic equity; public health; protections for youth; upholding the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act; and data collection.

RELATED: Virginia Medical Cannabis Coalition Hopes State Builds on Existing Medical Program to Launch Adult-Use Market: Legalization Watch

Northam announced plans last month to introduce an adult-use cannabis legalization bill when the General Assembly reconvenes in January, following the release of a Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission study on the potential impacts of legalization in the state.

That study found that legalization could generate more than $300 million in annual tax revenues by the fifth year of the program, reduce cannabis-related arrests by 84% when combined with decriminalization and create more than 11,000 jobs in Virginia.