House Bill 2312, which has passed in Virginia, allows localities like Windsor the option to have retail marijuana stores starting in 2024 or to call for a referendum that could prohibit them. The Windsor Town Council discussed the matter at its July 13 meeting. (file photo)
Isle of Wight and Surry counties won’t be able to opt out when retail marijuana sales are legal statewide in just under a year.
Past proposals to create a state-regulated cannabis market, vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, had included a provision to let localities opt out by voter referendum. The referendum language is absent from an agreement Gov. Abigail Spanberger, state Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Henrico, and Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, recently announced as part of the state’s adopted 2026-28 biennial budget…