Virginia State legislators approved measures that will allow the personal possession, cultivation and use of small amounts of marijuana beginning July 1, but a commercial market still isn't permitted to begin until 2024. Gov. Ralph Northam proposed the amendments to accelerate the timeline of a bill lawmakers passed in February to legalize adult-use marijuana. Northam wanted the changes made before he signed the legislative package. The measure emphasizes social equity licenses and would limit vertical integration to small businesses. West Virginia State regulators awarded a business license to Crab Orchard-based Analabs, an MMJ testing facility. The licensing of Analabs clears up a potential bottleneck in the supply chain for West Virginia's licensed medical marijuana program. Growers, retailers and processors have all been licensed, with many of the permits going to multistate marijuana companies. Regulators are expected to begin issuing medical cannabis patient cards this spring. Note: Entries sourced from Marijuana Business Daily, Hemp Industry Daily and other international, national and local news outlets. These developments occurred before this magazine's publication deadline, so some situations may have changed. May-June 2021 | mjbizdaily.com 37https://www.pattersonfan.com/cannabis.html http://www.mjbizdaily.com