Virginia

Virginia Senate subcomittee advances marijuana legislation

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Virginia Senate subcomittee advances marijuana legislation

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – A Virginia Senate subcommittee has advanced legislation that would establish a retail market for marijuana in Virginia.

The panel considered two measures during a meeting Thursday morning, advancing one that would authorize sales beginning in January 2025.

“We know that adult-possession cannabis has been legal in Virginia for two and a half years now, and it’s past time that adults 21 years and older can buy a safe, tested cannabis product regulated and taxed by the Commonwealth,” said Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria).

The bill that Ebbin proposed would have started sales this year, giving pharmaceutical providers who currently supply medical marijuana the first shot at opening retail businesses.

A competing proposal from Sen. Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) would give prospective license holders equal access starting in 2025.

“This is about leveling the playing field,” Rouse told members of the subcommittee, “ensuring that when this market steps up, everybody has a fair shot.”

Groups such as The Family Foundation and the Virginia Catholic Conference oppose marijuana commercialization.

“A study out of Columbia in 2019 actually showed that when we commercialize marijuana, that the rates of addiction are 26% higher than those states that did not commercialize marijuana,” said Todd Gathje, President of Government Relations for The Family Foundation.

“If you look at Colorado, they have had exponential increases in crime,” said Tom Intorcio, Associate Director of the Virginia Catholic Conference.

The subcommittee combined the two bills, choosing the Rouse bill as the vehicle for advancing the legislation.

“Marijuana is legal. We’re not going back,” said Greg Habeeb, the former Salem delegate who represents the Virginia Cannabis Association. “The question is very, very simple. Should we have illegal sales of untested, unregulated products sold by unlicensed drug dealers to children and anybody they want to, or should we regulate those sales, tax them, license the sellers?”

The Senate bill will see more committees, more changes, and more votes before it reaches the full Senate.

Another measure is moving forward in the House of Delegates.

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Virginia

VDH investigating another possible measles exposure in Northern Virginia

Published

2 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

VDH investigating another possible measles exposure in Northern Virginia

The Virginia Department of Health announced they are investigating a possible measles exposure that seemingly occurred on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

The VDH stated that a confirmed case of measlestraveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday, Jan. 24. The person is a resident of another state.

The following dates, times, and locations are potential exposure sites listed by the Virginia Department of Health:

Dulles International Airport (IAD): in Concourse B, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, January 24.
Dulles shuttle bus to the rental car facilities between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24.
Other exposure sites will be listed here.

This comes after three measles cases have been reported in Northern Virginia this year.

The VDH has listed the following guidance for those who have or have not received a measles-containing vaccine:

If you have never received a measles-containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps, and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who was exposed and considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Watch for symptoms. If you notice the symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.
If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve complete immunity, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.

MMR vaccine rates are high in Virginia, with around 95% of kindergarteners being fully vaccinated against measles. This helps prevent major outbreaks of the virus in the Commonwealth. If you have not yet received a measles-containing vaccine, contact your healthcare provider.

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Virginia

Five Virginia localities awarded opioid settlement funds for new programs

Published

14 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Five Virginia localities awarded opioid settlement funds for new programs

A committee of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority approved more than half a million dollars in new grants this month, directing settlement funds to five localities for programs aimed at reducing opioid use, expanding access to treatment and strengthening community-based responses to addiction and overdoses.At a Jan. 20 meeting, the committee approved $545,429 in awards to Clarke, Franklin, Henrico and Patrick counties and the city of Fairfax. The grants will support a mix of new initiatives and expansions of existing programs, funded through Virginia’s share of national opioid settlements with manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

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