Virginia Democrats are weighing their options after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) chose not to sign the Legislature’s proposal to legalize adult-use cannabis sales, VPM News reports.
Gov. Spanberger instead proposed changes to lawmakers’ retail cannabis framework, including delaying the industry’s launch by six months, from January 1 to July 1, 2026, and limiting the number of retailers permitted to open from 350 to 200, until January 1, 2029.
Because the governor sent back a substitute bill rather than line-by-line amendments, lawmakers likely need to consider the legislation as a whole, the report said. Additionally, with only a narrow 21-19 majority in the Senate, Democrats do not have enough votes to simply override the governor’s changes.
State Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) said in the report that she “was completely shell-shocked” by the governor’s changes.
“For me, unfortunately, it will be a very last-minute decision as to which action we are forced — and quite frankly, it will be forced — to take, but I’m not willing to affirm that direction until all options are exhausted.” — Aird, via VPM News
Lawmakers are set to reconvene to consider the governor’s proposals during the so-called “veto session” on Wednesday, April 22.
A governor spokesperson did not say whether Spanberger would sign or veto the legislation, or allow it to become law without her signature, if lawmakers reject her changes and send back their initial proposal.
“The General Assembly has been leading on marijuana legalization for years, and Governor Spanberger is committed to working with patrons to finish the work,” a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement.
