Spanberger vetoes retail cannabis, prescription drug bills
- On Tuesday, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation that would have created a regulated recreational marijuana retail market, following the General Assembly's rejection of her proposed amendments.
- Spanberger returned the original bill to lawmakers last month with sweeping amendments, including pushing the start date to July 2027 and increasing penalties, but the General Assembly rejected these changes.
- The initial legislation would have allowed adults 21 and older to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, with combined state and local taxes ranging from 12.3% to 16.5% and retail stores prohibited within 1,000 feet of schools or daycare centers.
- Bill sponsors Sen. Lashrecse Aird and Del. Paul Krizek criticized the decision, stating the veto "ignores the reality that cannabis is already being sold every day across Virginia" and leaves the state in a difficult position.
- Spanberger remains "committed to working with members of the General Assembly, stakeholders and law enforcement to get this right" ahead of the 2027 legislative session, emphasizing the need for stronger regulatory frameworks.
58 Articles
58 Articles
Spanberger vetoes cannabis, drug affordability board bills, drawing criticism from Democrats
Some Democrats in the General Assembly are frustrated with the governor’s volley of vetoes to some of their biggest bills. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced this week a slew of vetoes, including for Democratic priorities such as establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and setting up a retail cannabis market in Virginia. Other legislation that Spanberger vetoed included bills that would have blocked out–of-state inmate tra…
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed yesterday the bill that would have created a regulated retail recreational marijuana market in the state, once again postponing a reform that the Democrats of the General Assembly have been trying to approve for years.The decision prolongs the existence of an illegal market that, according to legislators, already operates in full view throughout Virginia.What the veto law saidThe legislation, passed by…
Virginia Gov. Sends Legalized Weed Dreams Up in Smoke
If you have any friends in Virginia who still have their “Vote YES” yard signs on display, be kind to them; it’s been a tough couple of weeks. The hardest hit may have been delivered on Tuesday when Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed the Marijuana Marketplace bills (House Bill 642 and Senate Bill 542). Most figured this was a “slam dunk.” “C’mon!” You might hear them shout, “It’s an all-Democrat government and we DON’T have legal weed sales?” Unders…
Virginia Gov. Spanberger vetoes cannabis retail bill, pushing legal sales into 2027 at earliest
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have launched the commonwealth's long-delayed adult-use cannabis retail market, dealing a blow to fellow Democrats who had spent months crafting a framework for legal sales five years after possession was legalized.
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