By Lobbyists Request Dedicated Hearing
The Cannabis Small Business Association is urging Virginia’s Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market to hold a dedicated meeting. The group represents hemp companies that say they are harmed by the state’s newly enacted restrictions on THC products. CSBA wants the panel to convene a session to discuss the consequences of the new policy.
This request was made on Tuesday by the association’s leadership.
Barbara Biddle, president of CSBA, stated that hemp businesses are not asking policymakers to take their word for it. She told the outlet that they are asking them to hear the evidence. Biddle urged officials to bring businesses, families, scientists, and regulators to the same table for a public conversation.
The association previously called on the full legislature to hold a special session to revise these restrictions.
Legislative Changes Narrowed Product Scope
Lawmakers and the governor passed budget legislation that legalizes recreational marijuana sales while narrowing the scope of legal hemp products. The definition of a legal hemp product was revised by removing a provision that allowed items with more than 2 milligrams of total THC per package. That prior law required a CBD to THC ratio of 25:1 or more for such products to remain legal.
By removing this ratio allowance, hemp products with more than 2 milligrams of THC are no longer legal in the state.
These restrictions took effect on August 15. This date is nearly 11 months before the state’s newly approved retail marijuana sales market is set to launch on July 1, 2027. The changes were adopted into the budget in amended form after standalone legalization bills were introduced.
The new rules create a distinct boundary between hemp and marijuana products based on THC content.
Commission Members Decline Comment
Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D), who chairs the panel, declined to comment on CSBA’s request for a hearing when reached via text message. Del. Paul Krizek (D), the commission’s vice chair, told Marijuana Moment in an email that he was on vacation and did not have a comment.
Krizek referred to Aird’s comments at the panel’s most recent meeting regarding her agenda for final scheduled hearings. Aird stated the intent is to focus on health and safety, public health awareness, and enforcement during the September meeting.
Aird and Krizek sponsored the Senate and House of Delegates versions of marijuana sales legalization legislation. Krizek told The Fredericksburg Free Press last week that he is hopeful the business model will work without the need to include intoxicating hemp. Seven hemp businesses filed a lawsuit to block the product restrictions from taking effect.
A federal judge denied their request to pause the policy while the overall litigation proceeds.
