Mike Pushkin

Charleston, WV - Today the Governor vetoed House Bill 2079, a bill clarifying the Medical Cannabis Act of 2017. The Governor issued his veto despite the fact that the bill passed both the house and the senate with strong, bipartisan support.

Mike Pushkin (D-37) the sponsor of the bill said, “The Governor's veto of this legislation effectively means suffering people will not have access to treatment and the promise of jobs, investment and additional tax revenue that would have come with the passage of the bill will not be realized for West Virginia.”

“My bill allowed investments in the cannabis industry in West Virginia to be treated the same way as any other business for tax purposes. Without the ability to make the same type of deductions that other businesses are allowed, it's doubtful that any cannabis business in West Virginia could exist. The Governor couldn't successfully run the Greenbrier under this tax structure and neither can medical cannabis growers,” added Pushkin.

“While I'm grateful that the Governor signed the Cannabis Banking Act, without this legislation, cannabis business accounts will remain empty, suffering people will remain untreated, and badly needed tax revenue will go unrealized.”