Cannabis Legalization Bill Expected Soon in West Virginia 

Democrats in West Virginia are planning to introduce a bill to legalize cannabis for adult use. State Del. Shawn Fluharty, the bill’s primary sponsor, told WV News that draft legislation is nearly ready and will be introduced soon, arguing the reforms are necessary as “neighboring states are spiking the football” on West Virginia, “especially when it comes to cannabis.”

“It’s not in West Virginia because the Republican supermajority has failed to listen to West Virginians and failed to compete. … The people in Ohio said, ‘We want this,’ and made their legislators act. We can’t even do that in West Virginia because no public referendum exists.” — Fluharty to WV News

Fluharty noted that Wintersville, Ohio – a village of fewer than 4,000 residents near the West Virginia border – is generating about $1 million annually for its community fund from cannabis revenues.

Democratic lawmakers in the state have proposed similar legislation for several years, but the proposals have failed to even receive a committee hearing, Fluharty said. He explained that lawmakers are seeking alternative pathways for the reforms, including proposing a constitutional amendment that would put a legalization question before voters and introducing legislation to create a public referendum process in West Virginia.