The Virginia legislature recently approved Senate Bill 591 in the Commonwealth, and Governor Youngkin has now proposed an additional amendment which seeks to make the lives of those with medical marijuana cards in Virginia a whole lot easier! What are the details on these new efforts to streamline medical marijuana? Read on to find out!
Changes to Registration
One bright light in this new amendment, if it passes at the end of April, is that medical marijuana patients will have a much easier time getting access to their therapeutic products!
Youngkin's proposed amendment seeks to eliminate the unwieldy registration process that patients must go through with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. Currently, medical marijuana users must first consult with a certified medical marijuana doctor to receive a recommendation for medical marijuana and then register with the State after they receive that recommendation.
This registration process is still taking some time, due in large part to the popularity of the medical marijuana program! While the waiting list was in the tens of thousands when medical marijuana first became legal, it has come down some. Wait times are still long enough, however, these changes may help more patients get access to medical marijuana faster in the Commonwealth!
The Downside of the Amendment
Not all cannabis advocates are happy about 591 or Youngkin's amendment, however. Much of the language in both is not too friendly to recreational adult use of cannabis in Virginia. Youngkin and his allies seek to ban all delta-8 products, prohibit the sales of any products containing THC to anyone under the age of 21, and increase the penalties associated with possessing more than 2 ounces of marijuana.
What Is Delta-8, Anyway?
What are delta-8 products? They are some of the products you might see at local stores marketed as CBD relief or therapy. They are not, however, the same as the high-quality CBD products you will see at your state-run medical marijuana dispensaries, which go through a carefully vetted production process. Those products remain legal and of the highest quality, providing Virginians with the therapeutic relief they need.
Working Against Social Equity
These initiatives fly right in the face of the spirit of the original legislation that legalized cannabis in Virginia. The original bill contained statutes that reduced possession sentences, for example, and also pursued a number of social equity initiatives. Youngkin and other Republicans have made it clear since his election in November of 2021 that they would work systematically to dismantle any equity initiatives.
Medical Marijuana Is Still Strong and Steady in Virginia!
In summary, there are pluses and minuses to this legislation from the perspective of cannabis advocates. While many cannabis advocates are upset over proposed new restrictions to recreational use, this bill does move to make access to medical marijuana easier! What is clear in all the back and forth in the legislature is that, while the rules around recreational will continue to evolve, medical marijuana is here to stay in the Commonwealth!
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card Today!
Medical marijuana is and will remain a safe and legal option for Virginians looking to address their symptoms with the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
Schedule an appointment with an online VA medical marijuana doctor today to start gaining access to safe and legal cannabis products, including tinctures, flower, concentrates and more for your loved one or patient!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.
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