Medical Cannabis Bill Vetoed by Virginia Governor

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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin recently vetoed HB 1989 (1), a medical cannabis bill which aimed to help make improvements to product labeling for medical cannabis products as well as “codify permissible delivery locations,” (2). With the bill no longer able to become law, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority regulations will now be taken into effect. These include decreasing access for medical cannabis patients. Medical cannabis will only be allowed to be delivered to the patient’s residence (2).

“With his veto, Governor Youngkin has stripped many Virginians of the reliable, direct-to-patient delivery services on which they have relied for years. Now, patients will only be able to receive medical cannabis deliveries at their residence, placing significant burdens on those who don’t have the luxury of waiting around at home during the already limited delivery service windows,” said JM Pedini, NORML’s Development Director and the Executive Director for Virginia NORML (2). Pedini further added (2), “Virginia’s medical cannabis program delivery process has notably been operating without incident since its inception. Claims that this bill would have expanded marijuana access are categorically false. Anyone who can read can see that this bill enumerated multiple prohibitions on delivery locations which do not currently exist under Virginia law.”

Governor Youngkin in his Veto statement (3) said, “Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 1989, which relates to delivery options for medical cannabis and labeling requirements for such products.” The Governor further expressed (3,4), “While accurate labeling is essential to ensure patients receive consistent and safe medical cannabis, this bill would codify the ability to deliver medical cannabis to commercial businesses and temporary residences, raising public safety and regulatory concerns. Permitting deliveries to businesses—including locations where substance abuse, gambling, or other high-risk activities may occur—creates unnecessary risks for diversion, theft, and unintended access by minors.”

The Virginia Governor felt that (3), “Current regulations already provide for safe, tightly controlled home delivery of medical cannabis. This framework ensures access for patients while maintaining strong safeguards to prevent misuse. Accordingly, I veto this bill.”

In Virginia, the Old Dominion State has been doing direct-to-patient deliveries since 2020 (2).

Back in March 2025, Governor Youngkin vetoed a bill in regard to adult-use retail legislation (2,5). The bill would have helped with resentencing relief for those who have a prior cannabis-related conviction, and another bill which would have protected the parental rights of parents who consume cannabis lawfully (2). With this recent veto, it marks the third cannabis-related bill to be turned down by the governor.

Back in March 2024, Governor Youngkin vetoed two bills that would have created state-regulated standards for recreational cannabis licenses and sales (6).

“This latest veto is yet another example of the attacks on legal cannabis and responsible consumers that are underway across the nation,” Pedini expressed (2). “Youngkin rolling back legal medical access while turning a blind eye to unregulated sales in corner stores throughout the Commonwealth highlights his administration’s fundamental lack of understanding of cannabis policy as it relates to public safety.”

References

1. HB 1989 Medical cannabis program; changes requirements for product labels, dispensing cannabis products. https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1989 (accessed May 9, 2025).
2. Norml. Virginia governor vetoes medical cannabis bill https://norml.org/blog/2025/05/06/virginia-governor-vetoes-medical-cannabis-bill/ (accessed May 9, 2025).
3. GOVERNOR’S VETO https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB1989/text/HB1989VG (accessed May 9, 2025).
4. Branfalt, T. Virginia gov. vetoes bill to improve medical cannabis labeling - ganjapreneur https://www.ganjapreneur.com/virginia-gov-vetoes-bill-to-improve-medical-cannabis-labeling/ (accessed May 9, 2025).
5. Norml. Virginia Gov vetoes adult-use marijuana retail, Guts Medical Cannabis Bills https://norml.org/blog/2025/03/25/virginia-governor-vetoes-adult-use-marijuana-retail-guts-medical-access-legislation/ (accessed May 9, 2025).
6. McEvoy, E. Cannabis legislation updates from Florida, Virginia, and Kansas https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/cannabis-legislation-updates-from-kansas-virginia-and-florida (accessed May 9, 2025).