Legislation that “increases the maximum expiration date allowable for a cannabis product after registration absent stability testing, from six months to 12 months” has received unanimous approval by Virginia’s House and Senate. Expiration
House Bill 815 was filed last month by Delegate Mike Cherry (R). The measure was approved through the House of Delegates on February 13th; the vote was 99 to 0. Exactly two weeks later the measure was approved by the Senate, also unanimously, 39 to 0. It will now be sent to Governor Glenn Youngkin, who can sign it into law, allow it to become law or veto it, with the latter being at most a political gesture given the measure has well more than the 2/3rds required to override a veto.
According to its official summary, the bill “increases the maximum expiration date allowable for a cannabis product after registration absent stability testing, from six months to 12 months”, and “allows pharmaceutical processors to employ as pharmacy technician trainees individuals who have less than one year of experience and allows pharmaceutical processors to employ persons with less than one year of experience to perform certain other supervised duties for which current law requires two years of experience.”
The bill also “provides for the confidentiality of certain records and other information of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority by making unlawful disclosures a Class 1 misdemeanor, including the exemption of certain information from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.”
For the full text of House Bill 815, click here.
In Virginia, medical marijuana dispensaries first opened in August, 2020. In July, 2021, the state’s legislature passed a bill legalize recreational marijuana. However, the law does not allow recreational marijuana sales.
A bill that would legalize marijuana sales for everyone 21 and older was recently approved through the full legislature, but it’s uncertain it Governor Youngkin will allow it to become law (unlike with HB 815, the measure does not have enough support to override a veto).
