Gov. Abigail Spanberger says talks with lawmakers have made significant progress toward a new bill to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana sales in Virginia.
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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Monday reported progress on new legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana retail sales, saying she has “incredible conversations” with state lawmakers. Spanberger vetoed a bill to legalize retail sales of weed only last month after the legislature declined to make changes to the measure.
“I don’t want to get ahead of the process,” Spanberger said on Monday when asked about reported meetings with lawmakers to discuss legalizing cannabis retail sales, according to a report from Marijuana Moment.
“I will say that I have had incredible conversations, really productive, and that’s always been the case,” she added.
The governor acknowledged talks with Sen. Laschrecse Aird and Del. Paul Krizek, the sponsors of the legislation Spanberger vetoed on May 19. Spanberger had sought several changes to the bill, including a delay in the launch of recreational cannabis sales and the resources needed to implement the measure.
“Our teams and we have had substantial conversations where we have the shared priorities of wanting to have a legal framework for recreational market that can make sense of where we are today,” Spanberger said on Monday, “that can put real constraints and guidelines on the market, with ensuring that we are working in the best interests of Virginians—certainly protecting kids, ensuring public safety and community priorities—but also ensuring that we have clear rules of the road.”
“I’m very heartened by the progress we’ve made, and I don’t want to get ahead of it by promising any timelines, but we are moving in a very strong direction,” she said in response to a question from a WVTF radio reporter.
Krizek, the sponsor of the House of Delegates version of the legislation Spanberger vetoed, called the continuing negotiations “promising.”
“She’s been fair and knowledgeable, and we’ve made some great progress on a compromise,” he said about Spanberger. “I’d say we’re one big team on this effort.”
A spokesperson for the governor’s office told Marijuana Moment that the governor “has made clear that she continues to support setting up a legal retail marketplace for cannabis that prioritizes the health and safety of Virginians, protects communities and consumers and operates with clear enforcement and regulatory authority.”
Virginia legalized recreational marijuana possession and home cultivation for adults in 2021, but former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed subsequent bills to regulate sales of adult-use weed twice. Democrat Spanberger, who took office in January, expressed support for legalizing recreational cannabis sales during the campaign.
Kevin Caldewell, the southeast legislative manager for the cannabis reform advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project, says the time has come for the governor to reach an agreement with lawmakers that preserves important provisions of the vetoed bill.
"Fruitful talks are a start, but Virginians who’ve waited years for a legal, regulated market need action to follow. The governor has listened to citizens, advocates and even her own family, who rightfully were distressed with her veto,” Caldwell writes in an email. “Residents of the Commonwealth have waited five years for sales to launch. Legislators, advocates and citizens have been through, we believe, the most thorough process in the nation to come up the rules and regulations for legal cannabis sales. For public health and safety, the gray/illicit market has to be regulated. This legislation accomplishes that goal.”
“Some compromises will be made, but we certainly hope the patrons stand their ground on many important topics, including recriminalizing public consumption,” he added.
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