2025 VHC Lobby Day
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29th
Join us in pursuit of hemp & cannabis freedom in Virginia. Support us in our joint effort to help save Virginia’s hemp industry.
Make an appointment to meet with your state delegate and state senator on January 29th and make your voice be heard.
EVENT AGENDA
January 28th: Lobby Day Eve
07:00pm – 08:00pm
LOBBY DAY IN-PERSON MEETING
Homewood Suites Downtown // 700 E Main Street
January 29th: Lobby Day
06:30am – 08:00am
CHECK-IN, BREAKFAST/PRE MEETING
Homewood Suites Downtown // 700 E Main Street
08:30am – 12:00pm
MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS & ADMINISTRATION
General Assembly Building // 201 N 9th Street
12:00pm – 01:30pm
LUNCH
Capital Ale House // 623 Main Street
01:30pm – 05:00pm
MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS & ADMINISTRATION
General Assembly Building // 201 N 9th Street
05:00pm – 07:30pm
'JOINT EFFORT' SOCIAL
Capital Ale House Music Hall // 623 Main Street
Summary of Hemp and Cannabis-related Bills
HB 1558 Retail tobacco and hemp products; prohibiting possession by persons under 21 years of age, etc. (DO NOT SUPPORT)
Introduced by: Paul V. Milde (Chief Patron)
Possession of retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty. Prohibits any person younger than 21 years of age from possessing any retail tobacco product or hemp product intended for smoking, as those terms are defined in relevant law. A violation of such prohibition is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $100 for a first violation and a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for a second or subsequent violation.
The bill also provides that a court may, as an alternative to the civil penalty, and upon motion of the defendant, prescribe the performance of up to 20 hours of community service for a first violation and up to 40 hours of community service for a second or subsequent violation, but if the defendant fails or refuses to complete the community service as prescribed, the court may impose the civil penalty. Additionally, upon such violation, the judge may enter an order suspending the motor vehicle and driver's license of such person pursuant relevant law.
HB 1989 Medical cannabis program; product labels; delivery. (SUPPORT, BUT NOT THE PREMISE OF THE MEDICAL MONOPOLY)
Introduced by: Alex Q. Askew (Chief Patron)
Medical cannabis program; product labels; delivery. Changes the requirements for what is included on medical cannabis product labels affixed by pharmaceutical processors to include (i) the total milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product, both defined in the bill; (ii) the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving of the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product; and (iii) the total percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the inhalable cannabis product, defined in the bill. Under current law, the product label of any medical cannabis product is required to include the total percentage and milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the product and the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving.
The bill also allows a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility to dispense or deliver cannabis products in person to a patient or such patient's registered agent, parent, or legal guardian at any residence or business at which such patient or such patient's registered agent, parent, or legal guardian is lawfully permitted to receive deliveries. However, the bill prohibits dispensing or delivering cannabis products to any public gathering places.
SB 970 Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. (SUPPORT IF FREE MARKET)
Introduced by: Aaron R. Rouse (Chief Patron)
Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026.
HB 2485 Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. (DO NOT SUPPORT)
Chief patron: Del Paul Krizek (D)
Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026.
SB 947 Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. (DO NOT SUPPORT)
Introduced by: Bill DeSteph (Chief Patron)
Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.
SB 912 Safety and Health Codes Board; THC impairment standard for certain work sites. (DO NOT SUPPORT)
Introduced by: William M. Stanley, Jr. (Chief Patron)
Safety and Health Codes Board; THC impairment standard for certain work sites. Directs the Safety and Health Codes Board to promulgate regulations to establish a THC impairment standard and testing protocol to be used exclusively on manufacturing and utility work sites and to commence the rule-making process no later than October 1, 2025.
Summary of Hemp and Cannabis-related Bills (TBA)
