{"id":85867,"date":"2026-04-21T12:09:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T20:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/04\/21\/sponsors-of-virginia-marijuana-sales-legalization-bill-ask-colleagues-to-reject-governors-amendments-risking-a-veto\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T19:46:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T03:46:56","slug":"sponsors-of-virginia-marijuana-sales-legalization-bill-ask-colleagues-to-reject-governors-amendments-risking-a-veto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2026\/04\/21\/sponsors-of-virginia-marijuana-sales-legalization-bill-ask-colleagues-to-reject-governors-amendments-risking-a-veto\/","title":{"rendered":"Sponsors Of Virginia Marijuana Sales Legalization Bill Ask Colleagues To Reject Governor\u2019s Amendments, Risking A Veto"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

The sponsors of Virginia bills to legalize recreational marijuana sales are recommending that fellow lawmakers vote to reject the governor\u2019s proposed amendments to the legislation this week.<\/p>\n

Last week, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) 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.<\/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 that they want their colleagues to vote against the amendments when the legislature reconvenes on Wednesday\u2014even if that means 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. For that reason, I will be recommending its rejection.\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

Krizek separately told WTOP radio that he was expecting some of the governor\u2019s amendments after meeting with her earlier this month, but was \u201csurprised\u201d by others that never came up during the discussion.<\/p>\n

The lawmaker said he is most concerned about \u201cpretty draconian penalties\u201d Spanberger suggested putting into the bill, adding that because she suggested a full substitute version of the legislation rather than severable amendments, the House and Senate can only take or leave the package as a whole rather than considering each change individually.<\/p>\n

If the legislature does reject the proposal on Wednesday, and the governor then vetoes the original proposal, lawmakers would have to start with new bills in the 2027 session.<\/p>\n

Krizek said in the radio interview that he thinks the governor is \u201cvery open to dialogue and compromise\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can do that in next session. We can pass the bill that we know she\u2019s going to sign, and let her administration know that I\u2019m willing to work with her and make it happen,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep meeting, and we will take up a lot of these suggestions that she has in her version of it, and see what we can agree to.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to Spanberger\u2019s proposed criminal penalties, however, Krizek said \u201cI\u2019m not too sanguine about going backwards in that respect, but I do think that it\u2019s just a matter of negotiating with her and explaining where we\u2019re at and why.\u201d<\/p>\n

He similarly told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday that 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

A spokesperson for the governor told<\/a> The Richmond Times-Dispatch that she is\u00a0\u201ccommitted to working with patrons to finish the work,\u201d sidestepping the outlet\u2019s question about whether she would veto the original bill if lawmakers sent it back to her this week.<\/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

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