Really encouraged to see Virginia leaning into lessons learned from other states. As Ashwin notes, banning local opt-outs isn’t just a policy detail, it’s foundational to building a market that supplants the illicit market and broadens regulated access for consumers.
As Virginia moves closer to launching an adult-use market, I’m very encouraged by the Cannabis Commission’s recommendations for a framework that works for consumers, communities, and licensed operators alike. One feature of the framework in particular stands out: banning local opt-outs. Allowing licensed retailers to operate statewide is essential to reducing illicit sales and safely meeting consumer demand. As Delegates Krizek, Aird, and Morefield recently emphasized, allowing local opt-out on retail cannabis is opting into the illicit market. https://lnkd.in/gBwd4ysP Virginia has an opportunity to get this right and build a market informed by lessons learned in the two dozen states that came before it. We, at LeafLink, look forward to working with lawmakers and operators to advance adult-use in the upcoming legislative session and build a market that is sustainable, efficient, and accessible to all. #Virginia #Cannabis #CannabisPolicy #AdultUse #LeafLink
