The one thing all government has is a thirst for is more revenue. And when legalization came to VA in 2021, there was also a plan to phase in retail sales by 2024. I thought 3 years was a bit much to plan on how to organize and regulate the legal market, but whatever. But when Youngkin was elected, all that went on the back burner.

There's tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions, in annual tax revenue to be had by the state operating a legal market for marijuana, as well as consumer benefits in labeling, packaging, and overall safety. Look at the 2022 annual tax revenue numbers by state at the bottom of the article linked. Virginia should be pressing for this to happen as soon as feasible.

Don't be like DC, whose "gifting" laws are about the only way the District figured out how NOT to make revenue off of weed legalization.