With marijuana set to become legal in Virginia as of July 1, Amherst County Board of Supervisors members are backing a referendum for county residents to give input on whether dispensaries that sell the drug should be permitted.
The board discussed the matter during an April 6 meeting and directed County Administrator Dean Rodgers to look into pursuing a referendum âthe sooner the better,â according to Supervisor Jimmy Ayers. When asked if the November general election is too soon to have such a referendum, County Attorney Mark Popovich said: âAbsolutely not.â
Ayers, a former Amherst County sheriff who retired in late 2015, said he labels marijuana a âgateway drugâ and he has seen firsthand what he described as damage it has done to local families.