Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed two top Democratic legislative priorities. He announced vetoes Thursday to bills that would have allowed the recreational retail sales of marijuana to begin next year and measures mandating a minimum wage increase.

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two top Democratic legislative priorities on Thursday: bills that would have allowed the recreational retail salesof marijuana to begin next year and measures mandating a minimum wage increase.

The development, which drew criticism from Democrats who control the General Assembly, did not come as a surprise. While Youngkin had not explicitly threatened to veto either set of bills, he told reporters he didn’t think the minimum wage legislation was needed and had repeatedly said he was uninterested in setting up retail marijuana sales.

In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize marijuana, adopting a policy change that allowed adults age 21 and up to possess and cultivate the drug. But the state didn’t set up retail sales at the time and still hasn’t, due to shifts in partisan power and policy differences since then.

    • sylver_dragon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      310·
      8 months ago

      What are you smoking and why isn’t it legal in Virginia?
      State marijuana legislation has nothing to do with the flow of FedGov money into NoVa. The area owes its wealth to two factors:

      1. Proximity to DC, including areas which used to be part of DC. With easy access to the Federal Government, both businesses and organizations want to be there.
      2. It’s not Maryland. Because who the hell wants to be in Maryland? Kidding aside, Virginia has lower taxes and is usually considered more business friendly than Maryland.

      Also, both DC and Maryland already have legalized marijuana and neither of them have been cut off from the FedGov money train.

      Lastly, “Republicans in NoVa”? I’m sure there are dozens, but if you start driving West on I-66, you’re going to reach the border of West Virginia before you hit a major enclave of Republicans.

      • prettybunnys
        91·
        8 months ago

        This is a wild take.

        Northern Virginia and Central MD are full of Republicans and Conservative Democrats.

        Maryland, and especially its DC suburbs (analogues to NoVA) are time and again ranked as top places in the USA to live.

        The person you’re responding to didn’t say half of what you’re arguing.

        I-66 doesn’t go to West Virginia but to your point I’d say when you hit route 17 you’re 100% out of the NOVA blue zone until you hit Winchester again, but that’s just typical city demographics at play there.

        You’re full of shit lol.