Federal agents on May 6 searched the office of a senior Virginia Democratic lawmaker and her nearby cannabis dispensary as part of an ongoing federal corruption and bribery investigation tied to marijuana businesses.
Fox News reported the FBI executed court-authorized search warrants at the office of longtime state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, the adjacent Cannabis Outlet dispensary, and other related locations. Agents in tactical gear were seen removing boxes and other materials from the properties while staff members were ordered outside. Lucas later arrived at the scene, but was not arrested. Arrests were reported at the dispensary Lucas co-owns.
The FBI confirmed it was carrying out “a court-authorized federal search warrant in Portsmouth, Virginia,” but declined to provide additional details, saying the investigation remains ongoing and poses no threat to public safety.
According to Fox News, federal law enforcement sources said the probe began during the Biden administration and centers on possible corruption and bribery involving marijuana dispensary businesses. No charges had been filed against Lucas at the time of publication.
Lucas, a longtime Democratic power broker who represents Portsmouth, serves as president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate and chairs the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. She has been a leading supporter of marijuana legalization in Virginia and co-sponsored the state’s 2021 legalization law. She also recently played a prominent role in congressional redistricting efforts backed by Democrats, including Gov. Abigail Spanberger D-Va.
A spokesperson for Spanberger told Fox News the governor was aware of the law enforcement activity.