Virginia Sen. L. Louise Lucas has been vocal advocate for marijuana legalization
PORTSMOUTH, Virginia — Virginia Senator L. Louise Lucas has built a reputation as a fierce and outspoken advocate during her political career. One issue in particular has been at the forefront of her agenda: the legalization of marijuana, which she says disproportionately affects members of the African American community.
This issue was so important to her that she sponsored a legalization bill and opened her own cannabis store. Now she’s under the microscope as federal law enforcement appears to have raided this business. It wasn’t immediately clear what they were looking for, but it brought attention to Lucas and his 34-year political career.
In 2019, she became the first Black woman in the state to serve in the leadership role of Senate president pro tempore after Democrats took the majority.
The following year, she appeared at a protest against a Confederate monument that led to criminal charges against her. A judge later dismissed the charges.
Lucas was born in Portsmouth and worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard earlier in her life, where she was the first female ship fitter, according to a biography held at the state library.
She was CEO of a Portsmouth company that operated residential homes, day programs and transportation for adults with intellectual disabilities. And in 2021, Lucas opened a store in his hometown of Portsmouth, The Cannabis Outlet, which sells legal hemp and CBD products.
“Let’s talk about pot,” Lucas said in a social media post about
An FBI armored vehicle and several agents were seen outside Lucas’ cannabis store Wednesday. The FBI would only say it was conducting a court-authorized search in Portsmouth.
