{"id":85845,"date":"2026-04-22T08:45:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/virginia-lawmakers-reject-governors-amendments-to-marijuana-sales-legalization-bill\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T19:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T03:46:16","slug":"virginia-lawmakers-reject-governors-amendments-to-marijuana-sales-legalization-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/virginia-lawmakers-reject-governors-amendments-to-marijuana-sales-legalization-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Lawmakers Reject Governor\u2019s Amendments To Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Virginia lawmakers on Wednesday voted to reject the governor\u2019s amendments to legislation to legalize recreational marijuana sales<\/a>, risking a potential veto as the original proposal heads back to her desk for reconsideration.<\/p>\n

In a voice vote, the House of Delegates declined to consider Gov. Abigail Spanberger\u2019s (D) suggested changes to the cannabis measure as part of a block with other legislation that the governor also proposed amendments to, effectively rejecting the suggestions. The Senate took similar action in a 21-18 vote.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers, meanwhile, also rejected Spanberger\u2019s amendments to separate legislation to provide resentencing relief for people with past marijuana convictions while approving her changes to a bill clarifying cannabis delivery and labeling rules.<\/p>\n

Spanberger\u2019s suggested changes to the cannabis commerce legalization measure<\/a>\u2014including delaying the start date for sales by six months, increasing taxes and instituting new criminal penalties for cannabis consumers\u2014drew strong pushback from reform supporters, including the lawmakers who sponsored the legislation.<\/p>\n

Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D) and Del. Paul Krizek (D), who respectively sponsored the Senate and House versions of the cannabis sales legalization bills, both told Marijuana Moment ahead of Wednesday\u2019s reconvened session that they wanted their colleagues to vote against the amendments\u2014even if that meant risking a veto from Spanberger when the measure returns to her desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the governor and I share the goal of establishing a safe, regulated cannabis market, we differ on how best to achieve it,\u201d Aird said \u201cThe substitute moves Virginia in the wrong direction and disregards years of data-driven, bipartisan work and established best practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs our conversations continue, I urge the governor to reconsider provisions that reintroduce punitive measures undermining the intent of legalization, shift critical elements of the framework into an uncertain regulatory process, and remove essential supports for impact licensees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Krizek noted that \u201ca few years ago the legislature took bipartisan steps to end racially discriminatory marijuana policing here in Virginia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, unfortunately, and probably not intentionally as she has not been involved in this years-long process,\u201d he said, \u201cthe governor\u2019s proposed amendments would repeal a number of those decriminalization laws and undermine what has been a thorough, thoughtful, balanced process of drafting this legislation with community and stakeholder engagement that moved us toward this more fair and responsive cannabis regulatory framework.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we legalized cannabis it was with a recognition of the disproportionate harm caused by the war on cannabis, particularly among Black families,\u201d the House lawmaker said. \u201cThis bill was intentional in recognizing that, but much of that intentionality is lost with these many amendments.\u201d<\/p>\n

If governor vetoes the original proposal as sent back to her desk, lawmakers would have to start with new bills in the 2027 session.<\/p>\n

Krizek said he is \u201chopeful that with more discussion and negotiation we can find a compromise that will maintain\u201d a balance between justice and public safety.<\/p>\n

Spanberger, for her part, responded to criticism of her cannabis amendments from the bill sponsors and advocates<\/a> by saying the suggested changes came after she spoke to the leaders of other states that have already implemented adult-use marijuana markets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She will now have 30 days to either sign or veto the original legislation as sent back to her, or allow it to become law without her signature.<\/p>\n

Personal marijuana possession and home cultivation of marijuana has been legal in Virginia since 2021, but former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) twice vetoed bills to provide consumers with a way to legally purchase regulated adult-use cannabis.<\/p>\n

Here are the other key details of the cannabis bills\u2014SB 542<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0HB 642<\/a>\u2014as approved by lawmakers and with the governor\u2019s suggested amendments:<\/strong><\/p>\n