Think about everyone not just yourselves

I support Mr. Davis efforts in the cannabis business.

Comments Document

I support Mr Davis on his efforts. Cannabis lawmaking bill

I support Mr. Davis’ electives and they will positively affect my community.

I support Mr. Davis’ electives.

Good morning Madam Chair and members of the committee. As it stands, I, like many others, are not in favor of this bill unless significant amendments are made. 1.) Industrial hemp must be removed entirely from this language. Hemp is already regulated by USDA and VDACS in Virginia, and the Virginia program has been evolving since 2018. Many growers, processors and retailers have invested life savings into the opportunity to be involved in the up and coming industry, and handing control over to the VCCA will inevitably cause conflict between the 3 regulatory agencies, resulting in over complicated regulations and requirements, and running many of these Virginia owned companies out of business. If the VCCA wants to control cannabinoids, it should only be intoxicating cannabinoids that should be kept away from children. CBD and other non-intoxicating cannabinoids should be "over the counter." I agree with the sentiment that the VCCA has authority of cannabis >1% THC to avoid any conflict between the legal terms "hemp" & "cannabis" in Virginia. 2.) Application & licensing fees should not be cost prohibitive for Virginia owned startup companies to be involved. The medical fees & fees for the proposed "select hemp processors" is currently only affordable to large multi-state operators. I propose a cap on application fees to be no greater than $5,000 and licensing fees should be tiered based on annual revenue, starting at $2,000 for companies generating <$100,000/yr. 3.) Those still incarcerated due to Marijuana related arrests need to be freed before any other regulations are established regarding the legal Cannabis industry in Virginia. Citizens across the state are counting on you to establish a program that is fair and available for all Virginians to participate in, not just multi-million dollar corporations. A lot of Virginia lives can and will change if you do what's right. Thank you all for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Savana Griffith

I support Mr. Davis’ electives and they will positively impact my community

Hello my name is Donavin Davis, a small business owner registered with the IRS, DNB (Duns and Bradstreet), DCRA, Virginia SCC, and soon the MCBA (Amber Littlejohn), and I have actively participated in the dynamic activities involved in the everyday routine running a Cannabis related business in Washington DC. Some challenges business owners face that regulatory authorities need to be aware of are as follows: - Transfer of cannabis from areas where cannabis is recreational to areas where laws are in transition, such as federal grounds in washington DC, or the pentagon or other federal structures in Arlington and the DMV area where jurisdictions change during travel too and from work, is dangerous for residents of Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, and a waste of tax dollar allocated to federal agencies that will soon change their laws to reduce sentencing to little or no penalty for many traffic stop related arrests that still occur to this day. I propose the Commonwealth create an interstate pact with Maryland, District of Columbia, and the federal authorities from park police to the secret service in order to establish a recognizable credential that will allow individuals to travel with cannabis for authorized commercial purposes. 1) Transfer for medical and recreational Delivery: There is a standard of convenience that we give to everyday use items for taxpayers enjoyment such as pharmaceuticals becoming available through services like amazon pharmacy, capsule pharmacy, and other companies with similar initiatives. In modern times of 2022, the current unregulated market provides many innovative conveniences that will come to be expected of the regulated market. Without these conveniences I fear transition to a regulated market could face the exact resistance the MCBA is fighting against by introducing the principle of social equity. Enforcement of provisions that are unfamiliar to this "grey market" for lack of a better term, of businesses in operation with significant followings, will cause small businesses in the process of brand growth and recognition to suffer significantly. A number of businesses on "Wheresweed.com, Leafly.com, Gentlemanstoker.com, Tokersguide.com" are providing delivery services to the commonwealth. In conclusion I feel not only is delivery the most modern way to accommodate cannabis consumers, condoning and introducing framework to delivery it is the key to making law enforcement against drugs efficient by separating established commercial entities from those who evade taxes and licensing. 2) Section 4-1:1100: States that possessing over 1LB of Marijuana is a felony in the commonwealth under this new proposal. I would like the commonwealth to consider the paradox it has created with this provision. In the framework for legal cannabis and recreational use we must remember residents of virginia have been allowed to grow up to 4 plants (while neighboring localities have allowed their residents to grow 3x the amount), of which 2 may be mature at any given time. What is to enable law enforcement to determine if one came across any amount of cannabis by means of home growing, or outside purchase? Clearly the minds of the Commonwealth that crafted these policies could use insight from a business owner who has experienced challenges in all walks of business that will affect upcoming and ongoing business owners in the industry. - Donavin Davis Entrepreneur 202-679-4074

Oppose if not amended. Existing dispensaries already have a distinct advantage over future Virginia businesses. The bill as is fosters a monopoly for these companies and doesn't give Virginians a level playing field or fair market. Moving the date for recreational sales through existing channels does little to nothing for public safety. The existing dispensary footprint is not large enough nor are prices fair enough to minimize the illicit market and it's inherent public safety issues. The Virginia hemp industry deserves to be leveraged to service the new recreational market. VA hemp farmers and early supporters of the VDACS program have made significant investment and in most cases have suffered financial losses. The hemp industry should be given the opportunity to recoup these losses in the new market. The hemp industry has more experience with scalable growing and processing and would be in a better position to scale to meet demand. VA has one chance to get this right. The illicit market has thrived for decades and will thrive now more than ever given the legalization of personal growing. If we are to minimize the illicit market, provide public safety, and tax revenues we must make ensure ease of market entry for producers and accessibility to new legal products. New products should be made available where current licensed 21+ sales take place such as tobacco. Tax should be minimized to encourage purchase through easily accessible 21+ locations. Product testing and labeling should be required to ensure public safety. The combination of ease of market entry for producers, accessibility at all 21+ locations, reasonable taxation, and value added testing will encourage adults to leverage the new legal market and by nature decrease desire to obtain products from the illicit market. The hemp industry should remain exclusive and separate from the higher THC cannabis industry, We should not impose any new regulation on the hemp industry through this bill, rather the focus should remain on the new market. The rec market should also de differentiated from the medical market by implementation of different testing protocols. The rec market shouldn't have rigorous testing and should focus solely on public safety whereas the medical market should have a high degree of testing and accuracy to support precision for prescription. For example rec testing could provide pesticide, chemical free, and THC % +/- 10% accuracy. Medical could be similar with higher accuracy and more cannabinoid contents included in testing (CBD, CBG, etc.) If we can sell beer, wine, and cigarettes in a convenience store; we can sell cannabis as well. Otherwise the commonwealth will miss the opportunity to increase public safety, generate revenues, and the illicit market will continue to thrive as it has for decades. There is already a market. The commonwealth is asking for the market to cooperate with new plans to increase public safety and generate revenues. We must remember this or we will not maximize the potential of the new market. We need not look to other state models in creating our market. We need to learn what not to do from other states and create a new version and better market for Virginians.

Currently the medical dispensaries are unable to keep up with demand from those who use medical cannabis for quality of life and disease symptom relief. You are now suggesting allowing those same outlets to provide recreational products. Taking focus and inventory from those who need it to a more profitable revenue stream. This path also cuts out the small business entrepreneur as the number of outlets for recreational is limited and those currently in medical will have first opportunity at prime locations. As for hemp processors - there are not 11-12 processors doing 40 000 lbs - if so name them - thank you

Madame Chairman and distinguished committee members, I am here today to plead for some sense of fairness from this committee. The language regarding hemp in this bill is a blatant attempt to steal away an industry from thousands of Virginia businesses and Virginians who, like me, have been working night and day for four years now to establish a thriving hemp industry. How can you even rationalize this type of power grab? This is as un-American as you can get, taking the sales away from small farmers and small businesses and regulating it in such a manner that it is controlled by four out of state medical processors is not only wrong but it negates a free market that has built up over years, and it allows our government to pick winners and losers. Hands off of our livelihoods, and don’t create a monopoly, it’s not fair and the citizens of our fine Commonwealth deserve better. Amend the hemp language and give the little guys and gals a chance to compete. Please remember that 89% of the Virginians polled are in favor of legal and accessible cannabis, there are no other topics that I can think of that have that high of a percentage for, Virginians want this done right, and they don’t want one cannabinoid (D9-THC) legalized, and many other minor cannabinoids criminalized, it is counterintuitive and makes no sense. Make it so all products that are to be in the market are tested by third party labs, have standards for purity and check for contamination, make it so only the compliant products get sold, but don’t take our businesses from us. Hemp derived products are now sold in thousands of retail locations all across the Commonwealth, if this bill passes without amending the hemp language, you will be letting down tens of thousands of people who work in this burgeoning industry. Please consider righting this wrong,. Respectfully submitted, Scott McStacy Forest, Virginia

This bill must not attempt to redefine hemp in a stricter manner. Doing so would crush the Virginia hemp industry. Hemp is a federally legal crop and substance; marijuana currently is not. This bill should not attempt to regulate natural non intoxicating hemp and its products, as it already has regulations from VDACS and the USDA. Doing so would put the entire Virginia hemp industry at odds with the federal 2018 Farm Bill. The federal definition of hemp is in the 2018 Farm Bill, and it states : "The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis." If there is a need to regulate intoxicating synthetically produced cannabinoids, then it should be done in way that does not affect the legal Virginia hemp industry. In addition, the definition of hemp likely will change to 1 percent thc threshold which is still extremely low, in the 2023 Farm Bill and Virginia should be prepared for that in its code. There should be no future changes to VDACS regulating hemp and its products and shifting that to the VCCA. There should be no monopolies on licenses. There should be a Three-Tiered License System regulated by the VCCA and they should not be cost prohibitive for market entry by small local businesses: Medicinal Use - Medicinal license holders have already received medicinal licenses and those licenses should be honored, but they should not get a head start on the retail cannabis industry or have any monopolies in other tiers or markets. Craft Marijuana Licenses - Similarly to craft beer, wine, cider & liquor, craft licensees will be Virginia small businesses that attract tourists and tourism dollars while growing their local economies. These craft licenses should not be cost or regulatory prohibitive and could be capped at 5000 lbs of marijuana annually, allowed to grow indoors and/or outdoors, and able to sell at their farm locations as well as retail locations around the state. (i.e. Much like a Virginia winery grows grapes and processes on site for their end product that is then distributed)

Dear Madam Chair and Members of the Gen Laws Sub Committee #5, 1. bill must address the folks currently incarcerated for nonviolent solely marijuana offenses. They should be freed immediately. How can the Virginia government legalize and then sell and collect revenues from marijuana and yet have people behind bars for merely growing or possessing it? Please consider those currently in prison for possessing something that is now legal. 2. This bill must not attempt to redefine hemp in a stricter manner. This would crush the Virginia hemp industry. Hemp is a federally legal crop and substance; marijuana currently is not. This bill should not attempt to regulate natural non intoxicating hemp and its products, as it already has regulations from VDACS and the USDA. Doing so would put the entire Virginia hemp industry at odds with the federal 2018 Farm Bill. The federal definition of hemp is in the 2018 Farm Bill, and it states : "The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis." If there is a need to regulate intoxicating synthetically produced cannabinoids, then it should be done in way that does not affect the legal Virginia hemp industry. In addition, the definition of hemp likely will change to 1 percent thc threshold which is still extremely low, in the 2023 Farm Bill and Virginia should be prepared for that in its code. There should be no future changes to VDACS regulating hemp and its products and shifting that to the VCCA. 3. There should be no monopolies on licenses. There should be a Three-Tiered License System regulated by the VCCA and they should not be cost prohibitive for market entry by small local businesses: a. Medicinal Use - Medicinal license holders have already received medicinal licenses and those licenses should be honored, but they should not get a head start on the retail cannabis industry or have any monopolies in other tiers or markets. b. Craft Marijuana Licenses - Similarly to craft beer, wine, cider & liquor, craft licensees will be Virginia small businesses that attract tourists and tourism dollars while growing their local economies. These craft licenses should not be cost or regulatory prohibitive and could be capped at 5000 lbs of marijuana annually, allowed to grow indoors and/or outdoors, and able to sell at their farm locations as well as retail locations around the state. (i.e. Much like a Virginia winery grows grapes and processes on site for their end product that is then distributed). c. Large Scale Marijuana Licenses - These licenses should be able to grow unlimited amounts of marijuana and sell at retail locations around the state. d. Intoxicating synthetically made hemp products (i.e. Delta-8, etc…) should be placed under VCCA regulation because the intention of Federal and Virginia hemp law was specifically for natural and non-synthetic hemp products. Thank you, Barbara Miller

Good Morning, We all understand SB 391 is a very complex and important bill for the Commonwealth and I would like to highlight some key main points to make sure that the bill is doing or not doing what the actual constituents want, not only what large corporations involved and what government itself wants. 1. This bill must not attempt to redefine hemp in a stricter manner. Doing so would crush the Virginia hemp industry. Hemp is a federally legal crop and substance; marijuana currently is not. This bill should not attempt to regulate natural non-intoxicating hemp and its products, as it already has regulations from VDACS and the USDA. Doing so would put the entire Virginia hemp industry at odds with the federal 2018 Farm Bill. The federal definition of hemp is in the 2018 Farm Bill, and it states: "The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis." If there is a need to regulate intoxicating synthetically produced cannabinoids, then it should be done in way that does not affect the legal Virginia hemp industry. In addition, the definition of hemp likely will change to 1 percent thc threshold which is still extremely low, in the 2023 Farm Bill and Virginia should be prepared for that in its code. There should be no future changes to VDACS regulating hemp and its products and shifting that to the VCCA. 3. There should be no monopolies on licenses. There should be a Multi-Tiered License System regulated by the VCCA and they should not be cost prohibitive for market entry by small local businesses: a. Medicinal Use - Medicinal license holders have already received medicinal licenses and those licenses should be honored, but they should not get a head start on the retail cannabis industry or have any monopolies in other tiers or markets. b. Craft Marijuana Licenses - Similarly to craft beer, wine, cider & liquor, craft licensees will be Virginia small businesses that attract tourists and tourism dollars while growing their local economies. These craft licenses should not be cost or regulatory prohibitive and could be capped at 5000 lbs of marijuana annually, allowed to grow indoors and/or outdoors, and able to sell at their farm locations as well as retail locations around the state. (i.e. Much like a Virginia winery grows grapes and processes on site for their end product that is then distributed) c. Large Scale Marijuana Licenses - These licenses should be able to grow unlimited amounts of marijuana and sell at retail locations around the state. d. Retailers, Growers, Processors, and Dealers with an option to hold multiple licenses. e. Intoxicating Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids (i.e. Delta-8, etc…) should be placed under VCCA regulation because the intention of Federal and Virginia hemp law was specifically for natural and non-synthetic hemp products. If immediate change is necessary, there should be an accompanying license structure available to allow existing entities to still conduct business, legally and safely, similar to that of tobacco or beer and wine. Thank you for your consideration to these points in the bill.

My business has been built brick by brick, step by step, with proper licensure, professional practices, and through following every letter of the law from our inception in 2019. It is run by myself, and my family. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, proper consumer education, and professionalism in all we do. SB 391 is literally a noose to our VA hemp industry. This bill is rushed, it literally chokes the life out of the VA based industry, leaving it thrown haphazardly to big cannabis and big business, before our very feet, and done so by the hands of the very local officials who are supposed to represent US. This bill is the very opposite of what we need in every way, shape, and form. It does not at all invest the very businesses who stand to lose everything they have built, but instead further lines the pockets of large corporations, and private interests. A sad, overdone government cliche'... This bill and its contents are poorly designed, and carries a price tag for permit applications, that is FAR beyond the monetary reach of what the majority of small businesses in VA could every be able to obtain. Where is the support for small, minority owned, veteran owned, and woman-owned business here? Additionally we stand to see the agricultural hemp industry in VA crumble under this bill, as well as the retail hemp industry, and even industries that have yet to have the chance to even emerge, such as cannabis tourism. We would be forsaking a much larger cost, losing local businesses, farmers, and related industries, if this bill is voted through. Aside from the aforementioned items, you Delegates ALL will be guaranteeing loss of constituency and voter support in your future political endeavors, republican and democrat alike, if you vote to support this back-door-driven, sham of a bill, into place. I, as a business owner, career professional elementary educator of 20 years, and citizen of the Commonwealth of VA, cannot possibly communicate more vehemently, how much opposition I feel for this bill. There is a much better way to outline regulations by collaborating with the businesses who are the experts in this industry. For our collective industry future to survive, the professional standards should be shaped in collaboration with people who know this field. We know this field. We grow these fields. We process these fields. We know this plant, and how to help form the professional industry. And our voices deserve to have a much larger place in that future, than what this bill proposes. I appreciate your time in hearing/reading my comments, and urge your strongest consideration in voting AGAINST SB 391. Regards, Leigh Anne Kuhn, Owner and COO, Albemarle Cannabis Company, White Hall, VA.

I simply want to voice my opinion regarding provisions for small, independent growers. I believe provisions need to be made so that regular people, people without huge bank accounts and financial backing from whatever sources, can legally grow, process and distribute relatively small amounts of cannabis for recreation or medicinal use. People in small rural areas with little options for earning, need to have these doors opened, and opened wide. These communities don't need retail stores owned by outsiders, stocked by outsiders who at the end of the day remove money from these same communities. Clearly, it's not possible for 100's of people in a small county to open retail stores and earn a living. However, if given the chance and the tools, I know people can grow and produce quality cannabis and cannabis products. Virginia needs to open doors for small poor rural communities, Virginia does not need to build walls and close doors to all but the very few. Help all Virginians. Create a provision that will allow small independent farmers to earn a living in this new industry.

Comments Document

I write on behalf of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors to express opposition to Senate Bill 391 (Ebbin) Cannabis Control; Retail Market. Goochland County primarily opposes three components of SB 391, enactment of the bill on September 15, 2022, requirement for a local referendum to oppose retail sales in a locality, and the ability of Marijuana Cultivation Facilities to sell directly to customers. Provisions of the enactment of SB 391 currently shall become effective on September 15, 2022, including retail sales of cannabis by pharmaceutical processors and industrial hemp processors. Goochland County is concerned that the enactment of retail sales, while limited, is occurring too quickly. Under Chapter 550 of the Virginia Acts of Assembly (Senate Bill 1406), passed during the 2021 Special Session I of the Virginia General Assembly retail sales of marijuana, marijuana products, and marijuana seeds & plants are permitted on January 1, 2024, which is a more reasonable time frame to allow the orderly establishment of this component of cannabis regulation. In its current version, SB 391 automatically allows retail sales of marijuana in a locality unless the governing body of a locality petitions the circuit court for a referendum on whether marijuana establishments should be prohibited in the locality. The bill defines a “marijuana establishment” as a “marijuana cultivation facility, a marijuana testing facility, a marijuana wholesaler, or a retail marijuana store.” Local governments should not have to incur the time and expense of a referendum to prohibit marijuana establishments but should incur that only to allow marijuana establishments such as retail stores since allowing stores generates local tax revenue. At Goochland County’s request, Delegate Lee Ware introduced House Bill 43 Retail marijuana stores; requirement for local referendum. that addressed this specific concern. The Subcommittee should consider incorporating a similar amendment to SB 391. In the current version SB 391, the definition of marijuana cultivation facility license allows marijuana cultivation facilities to sell immature marijuana plants and marijuana seeds directly to consumers for the purpose of cultivating marijuana at home for personal use. Marijuana retail stores already have the authority to sell immature marijuana plants and marijuana seeds, consumers who want to cultivate marijuana at home for personal use should have to buy these items from retail stores. At Goochland County’s request, Delegate Lee Ware introduced House Bill 72 Marijuana cultivation facility licenses; prohibition on sale of plants and seeds. that addressed this specific concern. The Subcommittee should consider incorporating a similar amendment to SB 391. Legislation in SB 391 governing the retail sale and distribution of cannabis and marijuana will have a profound and wide-ranging impact on both citizens and localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is imperative that the House of Delegates and the Senate thoroughly consider and address the concerns shared above. We respectfully request that you oppose SB 391 until these concerns are appropriately addressed. The General Assembly only gets one chance to enact this complicated legislation, its important you get it right. The attachment included is a PDF copy of these written comments to the Subcommittee.

I’m a Virginia native who strongly support to pass bill SB 3911 for the health and well-being of Virginians Cannabis consumers .

My name is Benjamin Clark. My wife and I have been growing and selling state and federally legal CBD products since 2018, and SB 391 would significantly undermine our capacity to continue operations. Thousands of our customers would no longer be able to purchase our products. We do not support this bill. Thank you for your time.

Comments Document

Cannabis Kills Children. See attached memorial, just to name a few children who had their life taken directly related to marijuana.

My husband and I are registered Virginia hemp growers. Just got our manufacturing registration. We are taxpayers and a small farm business that produces safe and quality products in compliance with federal and Virginia regulations. Please do not hinder small farmers from growth and have all their hard work and monies paid out to be in vain. I urge you to pass SB391 with the 3 VA Hemp Coalition points. Thank You.

Committee menbers, I am a proud Virgina farmer whose ancestors have roots in this state that predate any colonial influences. Our small family farm is based on sustainable and organic practices. We are stewards of the land working hard to leave it better than we found it. We are registered growers, processors and manufacturers of Industrial hemp by VDACS. The Federal Farm Bill of 2018 very clearly defined "hemp" . There is absolutely no need to redefine it in any manner that would decrease the delta -9 thc concentration to less than the currently allowable 0.3 % . This is allready a ridiculously low amount which shoud be raised to 1% immediately. Please note that breweries are not restricted to only producing beers with a super low alcohol content. Nor are wineries restricted in thier production of intoxicating products. There shoud be no future changes to VDACS regulating hemp and hemp products and shifting that to the VCCA. The large companies that have allready received medical marijuana licenses must be honored. However , that must not prohibit or exclude entities such as small family owned farms and small local businesses from participation by establishing excessively high license fees. The creation of a CRAFT Marijuana license should be executed and permitted. This will create jobs, tax revenue and promote local tourism exactly as it has for the Virginia craft beer industry and Virginia Wineries The cost of these Licenses must be affordable for small farmers and growers. The amount allowed to be produced in each season could be maxed at around 5,000 pounds annually grown either outdoors or in greenhouses, or a combination thereof. The grower shall be allowed to sell on farm exactly in the same manner as Virginia breweries and wineries currently can. Sales should be limited to legal adults only at all times. Committee members I am in favor of hemp growers being in complIance with VDACS regulations. I am not an advocate for synthetically made hemp products. We promote the production of safe all natural hemp products . Hemp can have an overwhelmingly positive impact on Virginia farming future The use of fiber producing hemp cultivars will create jobs . The use of the hurd to make hempcrete building products is enviromentally safe and sustainable . The soil remediation that the hemp plant provides is a fantastic way to reduce harmful chemical in our soil. Hemp is a plant that Virginia needs to grow! Last but not least as a minority farmer I need to have access to this hemp market ,it is an incubator for positive economic change. Thanks for your time, Respectfully Submitted Renard Turner Vanguard Ranch Ltd. Regional Director Virginia Hemp Coalition

Greetings Delegates. I am a long time resident of Virginia and a senior citizen now. I appreciate that the legislature voted to enact legalization of cannabis in the last session and I support this endeavor 100%, however, I am concerned about having an unregulated marketplace. We need a safe and legal way to regulate the marketplace to avoid citizens having to resort to black market products. We need to think about the safety of Virginians who regularly use a cannabis product. We need to take a bigger bite out of organized crime. We need to think about those with an opiate addiction that could be helped by an alternative product like cannabis which is much safer. I hope that the subcommittee votes to advance the bill to appropriations and I thank you for your work in advancing this bill.

Please pass the bill Sb391 please do not make us wait another year. Their are people that need this cannabis legislation to move thru now not later. We should be providing them relief for their pain with out having to use opioids . This could help the opioid deaths that are caused everyday by addiction. It is an alternative to opioids. Their are medicines that don’t help conditions with out side effects like natural grown cannabis. So I hope you will consider moving this bill along so we will be one step closer not slow down legislation so we are behind. Thank you for your time: Janet Wainwright

I support this bill to continue to drive the business processes forward in the Commonwealth as deemed appropriate and legal by our state government as well as approved by the will of the people.

Please please consider the bill this session. We are in need of affordable and accessible medication.

Please consider making this happen for the commonwealth! I believe as well as the rest of the Virginia, that this bill would be beneficial to the state. Thanks for all that you do!

To whom it may concern, my name is Ryan Nugent and I grew up here in Virginia. I've nearing 40, and I've used cannabis fairly frequently over the last 20 years. In that time, I bought A LOT of weed all over Virginia, and while there are plenty of good-natured, honest pot dealers out there, there's also a whole bunch of complete jerks who's only intention is to make a buck. I guess that's true of any commodity really, but when it comes to an established black market commodity these guys after a buck aren't playing by any rules, and they don't have to because it's an all cash business and there's no real recourse against someone who sells you a bad black market product. Now, with the end of all the insanity of prohibition, we have a chance to build a new legal market from the ground up with dozens of examples to learn from and improve upon, and it starts here. Let's get this thing rolling, not too crazy taxes please, remember the little guy while also inviting tobacco folks into the fold they can rotate cannabis and tobacco crops and apply centuries of tobacco experience to cannabis in a lot of ways let's do this Virginia! I was given two clones from july2nd or whatever the day after legalization was and did a really, really horrible job growing them, but from their seeds my new babies have risen, and they're a couple of lookers! So please don't make me smoke my own beautiful garden cannabis, give me a store to buy more and make them put a label on it that tells you important info about the cannabinoid content and such. Virginia has been regulating things since Jamestown, and just like Jamestown revolutionized tobacco, today we will revolutionize the cannabis industry!

All tax paying citizens should have access to safe and consistent medicinal cannabis. People shouldn’t be forced to seek out unsafe alternatives for their cannabis. Not everybody has the ability to cultivate at home. No access to safe regulated cannabis is only good for criminals sending cannabis through the mail from other states. Everybody is sick of it!

I support this bill, and will support legislators who act to make it successful.

Dear Delegate, I am a 70+ year old proud Virginian! I am so pleased that the legislature voted to enact legalization of cannabis in the last session. I am, however, concerned about having an unregulated marketplace. I hope that the subcommittee votes to advance the bill to appropriations; I fully support this advancement. Not doing anything will not work for Virginians. We need a safe and legal way to regulate the marketplace to avoid citizens having to resort to black market products. Thank you.

Retail sales should be started before the suggested 2024. So much suffering and pain, addiction and violence can be replaced with a different form of medicine that can not only combat those issues, but can provide much more positive health benefits. Cannabis is also a growing market across the U.S, providing a new source of revenue for municipalities, states/commonwealths. Please do not pass up on this historic opportunity to be part of the positive narrative that is sweeping across our U.S.A Please consider this bill for advancement this session. Concerned citizen of Virginia S. Dukes

As a Virginia resident, I am requesting this bill gets approved and moves forward. Virginians who use marijuana should be able to buy cannabis products through trusted retail stores. Waiting two more years is unnecessary and actually limits the access to safer products.

Dear Madam Chair and Members of the Sub Committee, We all understand SB 391 is a very complex and important bill for the Commonwealth and I would like to highlight some key main points to make sure that the bill is doing what the actual constituents want, not only what large corporations involved and government itself wants. 1. This bill must free the folks currently incarcerated for non violent solely marijuana offenses. How can the Virginia government legalize and then sell and collect revenues from marijuana and yet have people behind bars for merely growing or possessing it? Please consider those currently in prison for possessing something that is now legal. 2. This bill must not attempt to redefine hemp in a more strict manner. Doing so would crush the Virginia hemp industry. Hemp is a federally legal crop and substance, marijuana currently is not. This bill should not attempt to regulate natural non intoxicating hemp and its products, as it already has regulations from VDACS and the USDA. Doing so would put the entire Virginia hemp industry at odds with the federal 2018 Farm Bill. The federal definition of hemp is in the 2018 Farm Bill and it states : "The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis." If there is a need to regulate intoxicating synthetically produced cannabinoids then it should be done in way that does not effect the legal Virginia hemp industry. In addition the definition of hemp likely will change to a 1 percent thc threshold, which is still extremely low, in the 2023 Farm Bill and Virginia should be prepared for that future shift in legal hemp. There should be no changes to VDACS regulating hemp and its products and attempting to shift that to the VCCA. 3. There should be no monopolies on licensing. There should be a Three-Tiered License System regulated by the VCCA and it should not be cost prohibitive for market entry by small local businesses : a. Medicinal Use - Medicinal license holders have already received medicinal licenses and those licenses should be honored, but they should not get a head start on the retail cannabis industry or have any monopolies in other tiers or markets. b. Craft Marijuana Licenses - Similarly to craft beer, wine, cider & liquor, craft licensees will be Virginia small businesses that attract tourists and tourism dollars while growing their local economies. These craft licenses should not be cost or regulatory prohibitive and could be capped at 5000 lbs of marijuana annually, allowed to grow indoors and/or outdoors, and able to sell at their farm locations as well as retail locations around the state. (i.e. like a Virginia winery grows grapes and processes on site for their end product that is then distributed.) c. Large Scale Marijuana Licenses - These licenses should be able to grow unlimited amounts of marijuana and sell at retail locations around the state. d. Intoxicating synthetically made hemp products (i.e. Delta-8, etc…) should be placed under VCCA regulation because the intention of Federal and Virginia hemp law was specifically for natural and non-synthetic hemp products. Thank you for your consideration to these points. Jason Amatucci President VHC

Thanks for taking time to read comments. Firstly I'll say I believe for every party involved opening sales early not only provides the citizens the safe ability to buy quality products and minimize risk of laced product overdoses, it will also help people that not only use it for relaxation and destress, but for people with more severe illness where marijuana greatly improves quality of life. Marijuana is not a bad drug... it is a very helpful and useful tool for some people. My wife struggles with chronic migraine and anxiety and she has never coped better than she does now. It doesn't make her loopy, she is not addicted after four years of taking it and neither am I after decades of use. It is not a danger to society... it is a wonderful thing. I believe everyone should have stigma free access to marijuana and we should push our government to legalize federally after we pass this state hurdle. Thank you for your time.

I am a 63 year old woman, Virginia resident who depends on Cannabis for medical benefits. I urge you to please pass this bill. The black market is a huge problem in Virginia. This bill will help to eliminate this illicit market in the future and will help protect the health and safety of many who benefit from cannabis. Sincerely, Rhonda Bowen

I suffer from Parkinsons. An incurable, painful debilitating Disease. I currently have a medical percription so I am fortunate to have access. However, the process for percription and prices are costly and difficult. This herb allows me to walk, sleep and eat so much more easily. Everyone deserves affordable access to a natural substance if it can help them You made it legal, but no access 😢. We need to fix this now. not one more year. Not one more year of hurting people. Do your job. get this done. Today!

My friends and I contributed to the $1.8 billion estimate of illegal marijuana sales in Virginia in 2020 *. There is also a large amount of Virginia dollars going to DC dispensaries. These markets are un-regulated. Vote to pass this bill and move it to the next committee so that the people of Virginia can have access to safe regulated marijauna and marijuana products. *https://newfrontierdata.com/product/u-s-cannabis-report-2019-industry-outlook/

As you blatently raise the cost of licenses from 1million to 6 million in a blink of an eye. Dreams of owning an all in one dispensery, grow house, entertainment venue fly out the window. There's no reason that every corner store can get a cheap license to sell dangerous alcohol but the likes of cannabis requires licenses no one person can obtain. You go to any colledge town and they have 7 all in one breweries withing walking distance. They make the beer there, they bottle and process it. They advertise it. Patrons come and enjoy it and entertainment on location. The same brewery is aloud to make deals with other breweries to trade their product and sell at their location. All of these things can be done with out risky or expensive licenses. If I want to open a vertical license brewery no one bat's an eye. The state has no idea what consumers want. If they would participate with us or listen to the public-they would already know that dispensery prices are a joke and the quality is sub par at best. Leave the cannabis to the ones who know about it, stop butting in trying to figure out how you can make money off of our industry. Maybe reach out the community instead of inside. Your closed minds.

Adults should have access to a medicine that comes from a plant and use for recreational purposes.

I like to remain there isn’t anyone giving away any free marijuana So we Virginia’s still have crime on the streets and the neighborhoods and schools and organize criminals are getting all the money The money our state of Virginia could really use in all kinds of ways .

Please pass this bill. Va residents cannot wait another year for retail sales. This wil continue to force Virginians to get their Cannibis from the black market instead of putting it into the Commonwealth's hands. Again I urge you to get this passed. Thank you for your time.

Republican women want SB391 to advance!!!! The war on this plant and it’s wonderful properties have gone on for far too long and we the people need it to stop! This plant helps so many people in so many different ways. I am an educated, republican woman. I am a productive, responsible citizen of this country and state of Virginia. I have no criminal background and have never committed a crime, but I have sat back and watched the war on this plant for far too long. It is safer than alcohol in so many ways, yet it’s not available to the people who need it and actually would be able to benefit from its properties. Please take this bill into consideration as I believe it will help many people.

I, as well as many friends and relatives, depend on medical marijuana for health reasons, i.e., arthritis, dupytrens contracture, migraine headaches, muscle pains, and many other maladies. To purchase medical marijuana, we must drive to Richmond (2 hours) or one of a couple cities in Northern Virginia. Giving businesses in our area would make it easier for us to get what helps us deal with pain easier. Please pass bill SB 391 so that we who benefit from the use of marijuana will be able to purchase it where we live instead of having to make long drives and burn high priced gas. Thank you

The amount of money our state could make with retail cannabis sales speaks for itself. Look at Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, Massachusetts, etc. Look at the boost retails cannabis sales gave their economy. Thier teachers get regular raises and their public schools have money for whatever they need. Its time to wake up and smell the cannabis flower. Stop telling the people its about our safety or business. If our safety was a concern, alcohol and cigarettes would be outlawed. But we all know how prohibition works. Do the right thing and what the people of Virginia want. Pass the bill or pass it to the people and watch as we loudly scream for recreational cannabis sales. Until we do our state will continue to miss out on the revenue of a massive business and the jobs it will create.

I support this bill

Good morning. I am a lifelong Virginian and a registered Medical Cannabis patient. I know how much it meant to me to be able to buy legal, tested, and labeled products in Virginia and not have to deal with the black market. All Virginians of legal age should also have this avenue open to them. I encourage the members of this subcommittee to advance SB391 to better serve the citizens of the Commonwealth and deal a blow to the black market. Thank you.

When did this country become overridden with dictatorship and us peasants have no say? Let the black market thrive. While citizens are greatly uninformed and left clueless. I noticed that SB391 will only benefit the existing corporate owned dispensaries. Whose pockets are being lined this time. At what point does our government wake up and stop thinking they are better than the people they represent.

Cannabis isn't going anywhere. Please advance the retail sales of this amazing plant

I support the expedited retail sales in Virginia to support easier access to medical and personal use of marijuana for adults.

I support this bill. Virginia consumers deserve a legal way to purchase cannabis products.

We need access to buy legally in VA for what's already legal! Please acknowledge the people's request for this expedited service for buisnesses to be able to provide legal cannabis to consumers!

I urged the committee to vote yes in advance the bill. Virginia consumers have waited long enough. We deserve a regulated, safe & affordable supply of cannabis for sale in retail stores. Please Vote Yes!

These bills need to be revisited. For all of us in the Commonwealth, we need to not rush these bills. We are Albemarle Cannabis Company. We are a Female owned, Family run small business in Whitehall, Virginia. We have have been providing not only products, but education and consulting for everyone in Virginia that needs assistance. These bills will ruin the hemp industry in Virginia, and open a large door that supports Big Corporations and Pharmaceuticals Companies. Since the Federal Farm went into effect, Virginias Hemp growers, processors, and retail establishments have had to self-govern due to lack of guidance by the Commonwealth. In that time, we have collectively self-governed ourselves in a respectable manner, and these bills as written will do nothing but ruin the small cannabis businesses of Virginia. We implore you to use us to assist set a bar for legalization in the Commonwealth that will be prosperous and fair to all of us that actually live here.

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Thank you Oppose this bill SB391, Kill this bill My name is Aubree Adams, I’m a former Colorado mom who sought refuge in Texas after legal marijuana harmed my son, my husband, and my community. Please understand, my children do not have a healthy father anymore because budtenders told him to smoke 24% THC to treat his anxiety. Then my son tried to kill himself after experiencing psychosis from marijuana dabs. The legalization of marijuana invited marijuana criminal organizations into my Colorado neighborhood, which resulted in home invasions, a gang shooting in front of my home, and a man by the name of Brad Fowler murdered over a marijuana sale by my parent's garage. SB 391 allows a predatory addiction-for-profit industry that commercializes THC, it’s not just a plant. THC is the perfect drug that embeds addiction and causes mental illness like psychosis and has a 5-fold increase for chronic psychosis, schizophrenia. These drug promoters have to target Virginia youth just like the tobacco and vaping industry because they need more and future users to survive and to make money. Democrats and Republicans, and over 50 organizations including the medical community have to admit they made a big mistake and passed HB 1317 just this past June. Philip J. Weiser, Colorado Attorney General “The rise of teenage use of high-potency concentration THC marijuana is a critical public health challenge that demands action." The Colorado Healthy Kids Survey reported that students who are dabbing THC went from 4.3% of students in 2015 to over 20% in 2019. This is an alarming rise.” Dr. Chris Rogers, Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services at the Medical Center of Aurora Colorado “Inpatient psychiatrists have a front-row seat to the emerging epidemic of cannabis abuse and addiction that threatens to swallow the lives of a whole generation of Coloradans. On our adult inpatient unit, it's hard to keep count of the number of psychotic and suicidal patients that are admitted with THC on board…” We are losing a full generation because of the disease of denial and enabling and because of bills like SB 391. You can be the hero, and stop this marijuana nightmare. THC is a hard potent drug that is fueling addiction, mental health, homeless, and violent crisis. This is not a state rights issue. It’s not just a plant. THC is a powerful drug that needs to be respected and only regulated through the FDA. I live this nightmare every day. I watch youth fight for their sobriety and their sanity every day. Please read my article that was published in USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/10/17/marijuana-colorado-damage-children-brain-development-addiction/8469449002/ Kill this bill and be a hero. Many families are broken or can’t testify publicly to share with you how absolutely devastating marijuana legalization is. But I can rather many to have a private meeting with you. Please contact me anytime.

I am writing as a concerned, Virginia and family owned, small business. My business was featured in the attached Washington Post article, this week, regarding Senator Ebbins bill. While I am excited to see a bill progressing, it needs work. The overwhelming majority of hemp farmers and hemp growers in the state, including myself, will not be able to qualify under Senator Ebbins criteria. To be clear, there may only be a few. This again, provides advantage to the few and does not allow for equity in this budding market for Virginia small businesses. The “processing of 40,000lbs. or more” requirement for hemp growers to participate in the early cannabis market must be removed. My family and I have been growing plants in Newport News commercially since 1954 and I can testify that there are very few “hemp processors” in the state that know their way around a greenhouse or indoor grow facility at any sort of scale. “Processing” is the polar opposite of “growing”. If the legislation is intended to allow businesses to cultivate cannabis, then “growing” or “cultivating” must be part of the criteria. The language should be removed from the legislation and a fair and equitable licensing process needs to be developed to not shut out the original adopters of hemp farming across our great state. Thank you all for your efforts to keep Virginia businesses in the forefront of your decision making.

Comments Document

I am asking all delegates to vote NO on SB 391 and SB 591 unless all current language that supports the medical monopoly is removed. They must be amended to provide simple, free market solutions that allow small, established local Virginia businesses a clear path to regulated sales of intoxicating cannabis products, that is fair and reasonable. I am a Board of Advisor member of the Virginia Hemp Coalition. I am a Virginia resident, and local hemp retailer since 2019.

1. License Structure Changes Current Structure - Vertical Integration Not Allowed* i. Growers ii. Processors iii. Distributors iv. Retailers 2. Commercial Grower Licenses: Recommended Three-Tiered System a. Medicinal Use - Medicinal license holders have already received medicinal licenses and those licenses should be honored, but they should not get a head start on the commercial cannabis industry or have any monopolies in other tiers or markets. b. Craft Marijuana Licenses - Similarly to craft beer, wine, cider & liquor, craft licensees will be Virginia small businesses that attract tourists and tourism dollars while growing their local economies. These craft licenses should not be cost or regulatory prohibitive, and could be capped at 5000 lbs of marijuana annually, allowed to grow indoors and/or outdoors, and able to sell at their farm locations as well as retail locations around the state. (i.e. Much like a Virginia winery grows grapes and processes on site for their end product - wine.) c. Large Scale Marijuana Licenses - These licenses should be able to grow unlimited amounts of marijuana and sell at retail locations around the state. d. All commercially licensed growers should also be able to distribute their products to retailers by virtue of being commercial growers. They should not be forced to pay someone else to distribute their products. e. The free market should be the basis of the Virginia Cannabis and Hemp marketplace and no monopolies should exist. f. Intoxicating synthetically made hemp products (i.e. Delta-8, etc...) should be placed under VCCA regulation because Federal and Virginia hemp law was written specifically for natural non-intoxicating and non-synthetic hemp products. g. Licensed cannabis processors should be allowed to process home grow customers and small craft cannabis farms along with large scale operations. 3. Distributors a. Commercially licensed growers should be exempt from needing these licenses b. Entities who are not commercially licensed growers should be able to purchase these licenses at non-cost prohibitive prices. 4. Retailers a. Craft commercial growers should be able to have a retail location on-site. These small businesses can make up a large portion of Virginia’s cannabis industry. b. Non-Commercial Grower retailers will be subject to the regulations promulgated by the VCCA. 5. Multiple Licenses Multiple license types should be permitted without having to pay an exorbitant fee. Exorbitant license fee schemes only benefit the large out-of-state cannabis corporations & pharmaceutical companies that can afford to pay them and freeze out the average Virginian who wants to create a business in this burgeoning industry. i. Virginia laws should not penalize law-abiding Virginians who did not engage in commercial cannabis prior to legalization. ii. Creating a pay-wall / monopoly scheme to access an additional license type only benefits those large capital intensive often times out of state corporations who can afford it. 6. Tax Rates a. Virginia should cap its marijuana taxes at a 10-15% maximum i. High tax rates in California & Washington made black markets flourish ii. Oregon has a 20% tax rate iii. Colorado has a 15% tax rate iv. Federal legalization will add federal excise taxes to the total tax burden 7. Other Considerations a. Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Possession Convictions and Pardons

Since the requirements to sell cannabis legally in Virginia include an enormous sum of money leaving the average citizen that has been subject to decades of penal codes, there should be absolutely no laws to punish anyone for cannabis possession or sale, as only the wealthy elite could possibly afford license. I would prefer this law not pass and a free and open market established in which the citizens of Virginia can participate and prosper. The proposed legal framework is un-American and more fit to oligarchy. Cannabis legalization means no penalties, just as if it were considered a tomato or any plant.

Marijuana poses a risk of serious mental illness and suicide. Our website http://momsstrong.org catalogs many such cases around the U.S. Our leaders are doing a grave insult to public health and welfare by pushing for retail marijuana sales. We are totally opposed to both of these bills and beg the governor for a veto.

PLEASE pass sensible cannabis legislation to continue to allow VA adults to consume and grow at home, along with equitable licenses for small time (& craft) producers, and a legal way to market their products. Thank You

Hi I’m a licensed Virginia hemp grower for three years. My business is Mineral Leaf Farm. My concern as a hemp grower as is many hemp growers in the state of Virginia is Fair licensing for those who have especially put into the hemp industry. We need to make sure small farms throughout the state are given a fair chance at getting a license. And those through social equity. We can build a great hemp and cannabis industry for Virginia if given to the right people especially those in rural communities. Thank you Jeremy Shane

Thank you for taking a moment to read this. As a native of NOVA, born and raised in the Mt. Vernon area (some of you may know my mom, Anne Andrews, founder of Route 1 Task Force), I am asking you to kill this bill now. As the data and science is becoming more readily available in other states, (COHB1317), marijuana/cannabis is being proven once again to be capable of being a dangerous, addictive drug causing a public health crisis in legalized states. I lived through legalization in Colorado, and I experienced first hand the devastation caused. While it may bring in a small amount of revenue, the costs to VA will far outweigh the benefits. Please protect your youth, and my 11 and 13-year-old nieces. Protect them from freely available dangerous drugs, cartels and illegal market predators, advertising to children, psychosis (CIP) and schizoaffective disorder, addiction (CUD), impaired drivers, cancers, second hand smoke danger, violence, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, up to 8 point drop in IQ, Amotivational Syndrome, pesticide and heavy metal poisoning, and just plain greed of addiction for profit mentality. I had to educate myself, and I hope you will do so fully as well. Don't let what happened to my family happen to others. As far a medication, please know there are FDA approved medicines available from proper channels with proper oversight. Thank you for your kind consideration.

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Letter Attached*

Thank you for the opportunity to speak, my name is Jay lilley with Lilley Brothers Canna Co and Lilley Farms a 100+ working family farm in the southeastern part of Virginia. I approve this bill and hope the house thinks about the impact Virginia potentially has in this cannabis market. Please think about sun grown cannabis and how certain regions have the potential to be the Mecca of this industry as Napa Valley is to the wine industry because of our soil profiles and logistics to populations. Also, take into consideration I speak as a Virginia farmer that produces about 2500 lbs a year of cbd derived cannabis and the 40,000 lb threshold to be in the industry leaves us in a tough position. Thank you for your time and please let us be a part of this.

Comments Document

To Virginia legislators and whom it may concern, SB391 grants early access to obtain retail marijuana licenses to 10 hemp processors that have processed more than 40,000lb. This is to have more experienced hemp operators have first dibs at marijuana licenses, so that there is a lower chance of failure to execute. However, the largest cause of a cannabis business failing is not a lack of processing execution. It’s a failure to execute cannabis growing and failure to execute an educational, customer service oriented retail experience. For this reason, hemp growers and proven successful hemp retailers should have equal opportunity to gain access to these pre-market cannabis licenses, given the fact that they have a higher chance of success in executing the growing and retailing of these cannabis products (the most critical part of a successful marijuana industry that benefits Virginia citizens and the Virginia economy). My VA-based hemp growing, wholesale, and retail business is on track for a $50,000,000 valuation by the end of this year, and I believe my proven execution should permit me access to apply to participate in marijuana sales, more so than a hemp processor who has processed an arbitrary amount of hemp, with no context on how successful that business was actually executed. I propose the following language that would permit operators like myself, which are guaranteed to execute due to proven hemp business execution, to participate in the first steps of the Virginia marijuana industry. Current Language: Allows 10 hemp processors to participate in early marijuana licensing. Proposed Alternative Language: Allow hemp growers, hemp-specific retailers, and hemp processors to apply for early marijuana licensing, and vet the applicants off of REAL metrics that illustrate how likely to execute the applicant is. Please do what makes sense for Virginia, after being made aware of the above factual information provided above.

Legislative Policy Recommendations for General Assembly 2022 Session for Virginia Hemp / Cannabinoid (CBD, CBN, CBG etc.) Products Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) is a Federally Legal Agricultural Product that was fully legalized in the 2018 United States Farm Bill. Hemp and its products fall under the regulatory oversight of VDACS & the USDA has recently accepted VDACS’ plan as a federally compliant plan for hemp & hemp products. All Hemp & Hemp Products (including non-intoxicating cannabinoid products) should stay under VDACS regulatory control. These regulations are put forth in VA Code 41.1 and following. 1. Hemp & Hemp products are defined Federally and in Virginia code as raw materials and products under 0.3% THC. The move to a 1% THC threshold Federally is likely within the next 2 years. 2. Virginia law currently protects farmers from prosecution for hemp crops above 0.3% up to 1.0% THC from prosecution and 3.2-4114.2.H.1-2 specifies what to do with crops that are above 0.6% up to 1.0% THC. 3. Crops that are above 10% are referred to the state police. 4. Hemp & hemp products intended for human consumption are already treated as food additives and subject to VDACS Food Safety Program. The testing requirements are laid out on page 4 of the VDACS Application for Industrial Hemp Extracts. 5. Mis-labeled or improperly labeled products should be treated the same way as any other food or beverage safety issue. Consumers or agents can report bad products to VDACS or a local health inspector and they are investigated via the business retailing along with the manufacturer. 6. Moving a federally legal and interstate commerce protected product from the 2018 Farm Bill with VDACS regulations to a Commission created to regulate non-federally legal products will almost certainly be met with a federal lawsuit that the Commonwealth is highly unlikely to win. Additionally, consumers will still be able to order non-Virginia hemp products online and access out of state hemp products, meaning that the only people hurt by this change will be Virginia’s hemp farmers, processors, and retailers who have already invested millions of dollars in the good faith on the promises of the previous administration to put Virginia’s hemp program into federal compliance and allow hemp farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers to engage in commerce just like every other industry. 7. Hemp seed, fiber & flower is currently a multimillion-dollar industry for Virginia farmers and businesses and the industry is projected to grow rapidly over next the five years. There is no reason to hinder this growth by moving it further away from VDACS/USDA and giving regulatory and taxation uncertainty once again to the industry. 8. We must make Virginia the State that welcomes and un-hinders the global hemp industry to become the best hemp state to do business in the Nation, and possibly even the World. We must provide solid footing for hemp and cannabis businesses to flourish by providing a clear and un-burdensome regulatory foundation.

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Attached is a video that explains why I am opposed to SB 391 Ebbin Marijuana Commercialization. Access to marijuana and high potency THC products are dangerous to the mental health of our youth. Please don't sell out our younger generation to the profits of the cannabis industry.

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PLEASE VOTE "NO" on SB319 and SB519 unless you are amended to prohibit ALL MONOPOLIES for the VIRGINIA CANNABIS and HEMP Industries. Thank you. Leandra D. Selah Advisory Board Member Membership Director Virginia Hemp Coalition (757) 354-2413 leandra@vahemp.org

Honorable Delegates, we appreciate the opportunity to communicate our concerns to you concerning bills SB391 and SB 591. As a dynamic hemp extract processor located in Blacksburg, VA, founded in 2019, we have invested heavily in our farmers, employees, USDA Organic certification and VDACS approved dietary supplement production facility. Our goals are to continue to work with Virginia farmers to grow our hemp operations as well as pivot to include high quality cannabis extract production. As a small producer with less than 10 employees in an economically distressed area, including cannabis extract production will allow us to improve wages, hire more employees, and expand operations. There is effective Federal and VDACS oversight of industrial hemp processing and hemp product development, of which NuTrac Hemp is an active, licensed participant. We work extensively with the top testing labs in Virginia, and across the country, to ensure our products are of the highest quality for the health and safety of our clients and customers. We follow USDA Organic and VDACS requirements for production and labeling to ensure customers are fully informed as to all ingredients, use, and contact information for our products. We ask that in the quest for legalized cannabis in Virginia, the hemp industry, which has been an economic benefit to small farmers and producers in rural Virginia, is given consideration above out-of-state corporations in accessing licenses for processing and distributing cannabis. Licenses should be fairly priced for small Virginia hemp producers. Hemp producers should be considered for cannabis licenses based on merit – and a proven track record of following regulatory requirements, not on an arbitrary number of hemp biomass processing. The current arbitrary number is 40,000lbs – half of this, 20,000lbs, would be more reasonable more producers – but producing safe, quality products and being in compliance with federal and Virginia regulations, should be paramount considerations. Thank you for your time and attention.

Comments Document

Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) of Chesterfield County is asking the house to protect youth by supporting SB591 and opposing SB391. In alignment with the country's top medical organizations and the U.S. Surgeon General the risks of marijuana especially to the young, developing brain deserve greater consideration when increasing marijuana's availability and potency. Additionally, greater transparency and public awareness is needed around the risks associated with today's marijuana especially in regards to young people. Please see the attached document for more information. Thank you,

I urge you to do all you possibly can for safety of VA kids Cannabis Can Kill Kids My son's suicide note read "Marijuana killed my soul + ruined my brain." Marijuana use increases suicide ideation, suicide attempts and suicide completion. Please do everything you can to stand in the way of this addiction-for-profit industry. It encourages drug cartels to hide in plain sight and fool you into complacency and normalizing of drug use that will kill your kids. Cannabis Can Kill Kids It killed mine. Please heed my son's warning: "Marijuana killed my soul + ruined my brain." Andy Zorn, died by cannabis induced suicide in Peoria, AZ 3-1-2014

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I am writing regarding SB 391(Oppose) Cannabis control; retail market introduced by Senator Adam P. Ebbin and how it will impact the safety of our roadways.

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I have already submitted a written statement. This is Attachment 3 of 3 to that statement . Paul J. Larkin

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I have already submitted a written statement. This is Attachment 2 of 3 . Paul J. Larkin

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I have already submitted a written statement. This is Attachment 1 of 3 to that statement . Paul J. Larkin

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I have attached a written statement. I request that you accept it into the record of the hearing. Paul J. Larkin

Delegates, my name is Thomas Kelly from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I am a third generation family farmer with a passion for growing industrial hemp. I strongly believe that Virginia’s cannabis legalization could have a great potential to improve the quality of life for small farmers in hyper-local rural areas such as the Eastern Shore. With the Commonwealth’s history engrained in agricultural and artisanal economies, a legal cannabis market allots an incredible opportunity for small craft businesses. With the passing of his bill, small scale cultivators should be given an opportunity compete with large corporations looking to dominate the Virginia cannabis space. Inflated license application fees and tax rates, on top of early market restrictions will surely deter the small business-minded entrepreneurs from being able to compete with conglomerate businesses. Protections should be put in place for the micro-cultivators that are simply trying to provide the market with high quality organic medicine that has been proven to be safer than most pharmaceutical drugs doled out by our doctors. Cannabis is simply a plant, and it deserves its place in line with other locally grown products at the closest farmer’s market. Thank you for your time.

Comments Document

Cannabis legalization in Virginia provides a captive market for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Virginians. It should BENEFIT as many Virginians as possible but the legislation excludes Virginians. Big pharmaceutical companies that started up in other states and benefited from their captive market for the past 10 years have written this legislation to prevent Virginians from enjoying that same opportunity. SB391 restricts competition and promotes monopolization by large pharmaceutical companies that primarily originated out of state and SB391 legalizes an unregulated sub-cannabis market that promotes illegal drug sales without recourse from law enforcement. For the benefit of big pharmaceutical companies, the legislation: 1. limits canopy size to 8000 square feet for the average business but allows pharmaceutical companies up to 150,000 square feet of canopy, 2. limits the number of vertically integrated companies if you are not a large pharmaceutical company, 3. prohibits business to business collaboration for licensees, which negatively impacts small businesses 4.removes hemp at 1% THC - which is the major threat the medial marijuana. Did you know that medical marijuana vapes require CBD - which only comes from hemp. You can grow more hemp at 1% THC outdoors cheaper than you can grow marijuana indoors. Hemp at 1% THC would drive the cost of extracted medical marijuana vapes down significantly. That is why it is was taken out of this bill to insulate medical marijuana companies from competition from hemp farmers. THIS IS UNFAIR TO RURAL VIRGINIANS. To support the growth and development of an unregulated YET legal sub-cannabis market the legislation: 1. allows "home growers" to maintain up to 4 pounds of cannabis inventory which is an equivalent of almost 6,000 joints (cigarettes) for their "personal" use 2. allows a person to legally transport or have on them 1 pound of cannabis which is equivalent to almost 2,000 joints. Did you know that it would take 1 full year smoking 16 joints a day for a single person to consume 4 pounds of marijuana. For more perspective, the average chain smoker does not have 4 pounds of tobacco in their possession at any given time, why does anyone need 4 pounds of marijuana? Even if they were extracting it, the THC extracted is still significant and would provide dosage amounts that would last almost a year for a single person. I would suggest this governing body look at the ABC model - it works. At its core, ABC is charged to, "...prevent undue competitive domination of any person by any other person engaged in the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale at retail or wholesale..." of products. This can model can work for cannabis. You do not have to reinvent the wheel. You can copy it. I have attached a document that recommends changes to SB391 and I have included additional programmatic suggestions for the State to quickly and safely launch a legalized cannabis program by using supporting infrastructure from other State Agencies - including ABC. This allows the State time to build infrastructure with the Cannabis Control Authority and launch a sustainable cannabis program that benefits ALL Virginians and not the special interest groups and drug dealers.

Comments Document

Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) is a Federally Legal Agricultural Product that was fully legalized in the 2018 United States Farm Bill. Hemp and its products fall under the regulatory oversight of VDACS & the USDA has recently accepted VDACS’ plan as a federally compliant plan for hemp & hemp products. All Hemp & Hemp Products (including non-intoxicating cannabinoid products) should stay under VDACS regulatory control. Neither of these bills should make it more difficult or costly for me to continue grow and process hemp into end-use compliant products under current Virginia and federal laws regarding hemp. Furthermore, hemp should have an allowable THC level of up to 1%. The intoxicating cannabis retail market should not be created for out-of-state monopolies to control. License structure should be attainable for different scale growers. There should be a craft cannabis license available to smaller scale growers, similar to our craft farm breweries that we enjoy in Virginia. Craft commercial growers should be able to have a retail location on-site. These small businesses can make up a large portion of Virginia’s cannabis industry. The free market should be the basis of the Virginia Cannabis and Hemp marketplace and no monopolies should exist. Licensed cannabis processors should be allowed to process home grow customers and small craft cannabis farms along with large scale operations. Home growers should be allowed to enjoy their plants in whatever form they choose; botanical, infusions, raw, cooked. Multiple license types should be permitted without having to pay an exorbitant fee. Exorbitant license fee schemes only benefit the large out-of-state cannabis corporations & pharmaceutical companies that can afford to pay and freeze out the average Virginian who wants to create a business in this burgeoning industry. Virginia should cap its marijuana taxes at a 10-15% maximum Automatic Expungement of Marijuana Possession Convictions and Pardons If it is lawful to possess and sell marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia, then it is immoral and unethical to keep individuals incarcerated for possession, manufacture, or sale of that product, and to keep those prior convictions on their criminal record. Convictions for nonviolent charges of marijuana need to be looked at for expungement, and those incarcerated on nonviolent charges related solely to marijuana should be pardoned. Second Amendment Considerations Virginians should not be forced to choose between their Second Amendment gun rights and their cannabis rights. Possession of a firearm in conjunction with possession of marijuana should be removed as a criminal offense to avoid a conflict of basic rights. Those convicted of possessing an otherwise legal firearm in conjunction with possessing marijuana, and not related to a violent crime in the past, should have those charges and convictions expunged. Drug Testing Threshold levels of THC in drug testing should be raised to account for trace amounts of THC that is now found in legal hemp products. Also, with a legal marijuana market in Virginia, drug testing for marijuana should reflect these changes in the recent laws. Legal medical or recreational cannabis use should not be considered in parental rights determination.

No monopolies in Virginia cannabis industry!!

Comments Document

Legislative Policy Recommendations for General Assembly 2022 Session for Virginia Hemp / Cannabinoid (CBD, CBN, CBG etc.) Products Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) is a Federally Legal Agricultural Product that was fully legalized in the 2018 United States Farm Bill. Hemp and its products fall under the regulatory oversight of VDACS & the USDA has recently accepted VDACS’ plan as a federally compliant plan for hemp & hemp products. All Hemp & Hemp Products (including non-intoxicating cannabinoid products) should stay under VDACS regulatory control. These regulations are put forth in VA Code 41.1 and following. 1. Hemp & Hemp products are defined Federally and in Virginia code as raw materials and products under 0.3% THC. The move to a 1% THC threshold Federally is likely within the next 2 years. 2. Virginia law currently protects farmers from prosecution for hemp crops above 0.3% up to 1.0% THC from prosecution and 3.2-4114.2.H.1-2 specifies what to do with crops that are above 0.6% up to 1.0% THC. 3. Crops that are above 10% are referred to the state police. 4. Hemp & hemp products intended for human consumption are already treated as food additives and subject to VDACS Food Safety Program. The testing requirements are laid out on page 4 of the VDACS Application for Industrial Hemp Extracts. 5. Mis-labeled or improperly labeled products should be treated the same way as any other food or beverage safety issue. Consumers or agents can report bad products to VDACS or a local health inspector and they are investigated via the business retailing along with the manufacturer. 6. Moving a federally legal and interstate commerce protected product from the 2018 Farm Bill with VDACS regulations to a Commission created to regulate non-federally legal products will almost certainly be met with a federal lawsuit that the Commonwealth is highly unlikely to win. Additionally, consumers will still be able to order non-Virginia hemp products online and access out of state hemp products, meaning that the only people hurt by this change will be Virginia’s hemp farmers, processors, and retailers who have already invested millions of dollars in the good faith on the promises of the previous administration to put Virginia’s hemp program into federal compliance and allow hemp farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers to engage in commerce just like every other industry. 7. Hemp seed, fiber & flower is currently a multimillion-dollar industry for Virginia farmers and businesses and the industry is projected to grow rapidly over next the five years. There is no reason to hinder this growth by moving it further away from VDACS/USDA and giving regulatory and taxation uncertainty once again to the industry. 8. We must make Virginia the State that welcomes and un-hinders the global hemp industry to become the best hemp state to do business in the Nation, and possibly even the World. We must provide solid footing for hemp and cannabis businesses to flourish by providing a clear and un-burdensome regulatory foundation.

Comments Document

I am here as a concerned mother and a victim of marijuana use. We continue to hear facts and statistics to support why we should not commercialize marijuana in Virginia. For some reason, the facts haven’t been enough. We’ve heard from parents who lost their children to cannabis in states with commercialization, but it still hasn’t been enough. I’m here to tell you that there is no safe way to commercialize marijuana. There is no magic age. 21 years old is not old enough. And I know this because I was 24 when marijuana use impaired my judgment to mix smoking with drinking alcohol. And then mix that with driving. I drove my car off a cliff, nearly killing myself and my two passengers. I was a mother of a two year old. I was a licensed nurse enrolled in a bachelors program. I should have known better right? According to this bill I should have been allowed to smoke marijuana because I was “old enough”. Marijuana impairment knows no age. God willing I survived and I’m hear to tell you it will happen. Adult marijuana use will mix with adult alcohol use. Our roadways will not be safe. Our public is not safe.

Delegates, My name is Ryan Suit and I am a hemp grower and processor in Virginia Beach. First, thank you for your continued work on the cannabis bills this session. These bills comprise challenging but important legislation, and I appreciate the time you have committed to them thus far. I am writing today to urge you to pass SB391 in order to set the framework and timeline for the recreational cannabis industry in Virginia. This industry will create jobs, tax revenue, and potentially generational wealth for Virginians in all parts of the state. It is important for a bill to be passed as soon as possible so that Virginia’s cannabis industry can get started. Recreational cannabis companies need time to prepare for the market, as just applying for a license will require raising capital, purchasing or leasing property, building out a facility, hiring employees, and more. The sooner a bill is passed, the sooner companies can prepare, and the more likely the entire industry will be successful. If SB391 is not passed this session, Virginia’s cannabis industry will be in limbo for at least a year. The recreational market will be set back, out-of-state pharmaceutical companies will have a head start on monopolizing sales, and the black market will continue to grow while providing no tax dollars to the Commonwealth. If SB391 is not passed, it will create costly delays in the cannabis industry and will ultimately hurt Virginians. Again, I urge you, your fellow delegates, and the entire General Assembly to come together to pass SB391. Simply put, the cannabis industry in Virginia will be most successful if the entire recreational market can begin as soon as possible, and that requires a cannabis bill be passed this session. As session continues, I would be happy to offer my thoughts at any point. Should you have any questions for me, please do not hesitate to reach me at rsuit@dominionbuds.com or at 757-470-2775. Best, Ryan Suit