The Weekly Roll March 20th 2026
Mar 20, 2026
Happy Friday!
Welcome back to The Weekly Roll! I hope everyone had a lovely week, here is what’s happening this week in cannabis and art:
Virginia Opening 2027 : A bill creating Virginia's adult-use cannabis retail market is on Gov. Spanberger's desk, with a proposed January 1, 2027 launch, 350 retail stores, and a 6% state tax. If signed, Virginia would become the first state in the South with a legal cannabis market. Some advocates worry the timeline is too tight given cannabis takes six months to grow, and the governor may push the date back. Article
Ohio Setback : Ohioans for Cannabis Choice failed to gather the 248,000 signatures needed to referendum a law that rolls back the state's voter-approved cannabis legalization. Senate Bill 56 recriminalizes several acts voters approved in 2023, lowers possession limits, bans intoxicating hemp, and strips $60M from social equity and treatment programs. Critics say lawmakers effectively overrode the 57% of Ohioans who voted to legalize cannabis. Article
Interesting Number : Despite voters mandating in 2022 that marijuana tax revenue fund veterans services, public defenders, and drug treatment, about $95 million sat unspent at the end of last fiscal year. State auditors blasted lawmakers for letting the funds stagnate, and projections show $60 million could remain untouched over the next two years. The public defender's office has been hit hardest, struggling to get approval for basic pay raises despite a 23% attorney turnover rate. Article
Broken Glass : A 40-year-old man was arrested after destroying several glass sculptures at Seattle's Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, causing $240,000 in "catastrophic damage." He also allegedly threw glass shards at security and attempted to stab a security officer, though no one was hurt. Police described large pieces of colorful broken glass scattered across the museum grounds. Article
Have a great weekend!
Aidan