Pot shops on every corner - Local Opt-Out Nixed!
So much for defending “democracy.”
Yesterday, the Democrat majority on the Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market advanced proposals to force recreational marijuana storefronts into every Virginia community. Their proposal purposefully eliminates the local referendum that would give citizens an opportunity to vote on whether they want these harmful products in their neighborhoods.
This is the same majority that is preparing to rush constitutional amendments that would gerrymander congressional lines, enshrine unlimited abortion, and replace Virginia’s definition of marriage (one man and one woman) with a gender-identity–based standard through a special referendum as early as April or May.
Remember how the Democrat majority kept saying during last month's special session it was “to protect democracy?” Apparently that commitment does not apply when it comes to pushing pot shops on every corner.
Stripping away the local referendum shows just how aggressively the marijuana industry wants to force its agenda onto our communities, and how legislators are prioritizing tax revenue over child safety and public health.
What Happened:
This week the Joint Commission released its recommendations for draft legislation next year, with the biggest change being the elimination of the local referendum. Delegate Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax), chairman of the commission, said: “There will be no dry localities.”
Major Concerns in the Commission’s Proposal:
No local opt-out: Localities are barred from holding a referendum to reject retail marijuana stores.
Minimal distance requirements: Shops could be placed disturbingly close (within 1,000 ft) to churches, schools, playgrounds, and family-oriented areas.
Pot shops on every corner: The proposal allows multiple pot shops in close proximity - within one mile - of each other. (There was discussion at the hearing to make it 1,000 ft.)
Felon ownership permitted: Individuals with certain felony convictions related to marijuana distribution could own or operate retail marijuana businesses.
What Virginians should brace for if these proposals become law:
Marijuana stores invading commercial areas where families frequent,
The stench of marijuana in our neighborhoods,
More intoxicated, belligerent individuals roaming the streets, and
The predictable spiral of social harms as seen in other cities and states.
There are well-documented harms associated with commercialization of marijuana, such as higher youth use, reduced academic performance, impaired driving, workforce instability, and increased hospitalizations. Every state that has normalized cannabis has watched these consequences grow.
Parents deserve a state that protects children from addiction-driven industries, not jeopardizes their health, safety, and well-being. At minimum, local communities should have the right to say whether they want pot shops in their neighborhoods.
The Family Foundation will continue urging lawmakers to prioritize children’s safety, uphold parental rights, and safeguard the well-being of Virginia families.
