RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Democrats are moving forward with their efforts to set up a retail market for the sale of recreational marijuana, something Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has implied he won’t sign into law.  A bill approved Friday by the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee would allow up to 350 retail stores to open their doors on May 1, 2026.  Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), who wrote the bill, said the legislation is to combat an illegal market that’s selling dangerous, untested products to Virginians. “What this would attempt to do is set up an adult retail market so we can ensure these products don’t fall into the hands of children by having safely-tested products, by making sure that they are accurately labeled, and holding people accountable,” Rouse told 8News.  Rouse added that a retail market would bring in about $3 billion in tax revenue that could be used to invest in key areas.  “Those priorities include transportation such as continuing to expand I-81,” Rouse said. “Higher learning support as well. Making sure that our schools have the resources they need to build 21st century schools and beyond.” However, in his State of the Commonwealth Address earlier this week, Youngkin implied that he wouldn’t sign any bill into law that creates a retail market for recreational marijuana.   “States with retail markets have seen significant negative impacts on children and adolescents' health and safety, increased gang activity and violent crime, significant deterioration of mental health, decreased road safety, and significant costs associated with a marijuana retail market that far exceeds the perverse benefits of tax revenue,” Youngkin told the General Assembly.  Rouse’s bill needs to be considered by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee before potentially heading to the Senate floor.