Virginia

SB 542 / HB 642 (Oppose – Urgent Veto Request)

SB 542 (previous report) and HB 642 have been returned to Governor Abigail Spanberger without incorporating her proposed amendments to the bill. Consequently, she is now faced with the decision to either sign the bill in its current form or veto it.

Both bills pose a significant threat to the Virginia hemp industry by imposing a 2mg THC limit per package and establishing a retail cannabis market in which the Virginia government will exercise control over market participants. If enacted, these bills would have a profoundly negative impact on numerous beneficial natural hemp wellness products currently available in Virginia, effectively shutting down the hemp industry in the state.

Furthermore, these bills would contribute to a heightened police presence in the cannabis sector within the Commonwealth and represent a step backward for cannabis rights in Virginia while primarily benefiting corporate interests from outside the state.

For these reasons and others, USHR is urging Governor Abigail Spanberger to veto these bills and instead support a free-market approach for the emerging hemp and cannabis industry.

Virginia Residents: Take Action: Contact Governor Abigail Spanberger and urge her to veto SB 542 and HB 642.