Virginia Gov. Vetoes Bill That Would Protect Parents Who Use Marijuana From Child Neglect Accusations, Citing ‘Non-Existent Problem’
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed a cannabis bill Friday that would protect parents and others responsible for a child’s care from being accused of neglecting or abusing children solely based on cannabis possession or use.
The legislation, HB 833, reached Youngkin’s desk with bipartisan support, though more Democrats supported it. The governor could have signed it, returned it to lawmakers with proposed amendments, or veto it. He chose to veto it, citing that such a problem was “non-existent.”
The measure “Provides that a child shall not be considered an abused or neglected child, and no person shall be denied custody or visitation of a child, based only on the fact that the child’s parent or other person responsible for his care, or the person petitioning for custody or visitation of the child, possessed or consumed legally authorized substances.”
‘A Non-Existing Problem’
“The proposed legislation, aiming to address a non-existent problem, has potential …