Virginia Governor Expected to Request Amendments to Bill Legalizing Recreational Cannabis Sales Ahead of Midnight Deadline
- Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is set to sign legislation creating a legal framework for licensed recreational marijuana sales in Virginia.
- She has until 11:59 p.m. on April 13 to sign the bill, veto it, or return it with amendments; if no action is taken, it becomes law automatically.
- Ongoing negotiations between the governor’s office and the General Assembly may produce multiple amendments, including the possibility of a striking amendment that would overhaul the bill.
- The legislation marks a significant shift as it establishes a regulated adult-use marijuana market following previous vetoes by former Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed into law legislation that will establish a legal framework for licensed recreational marijuana sales in Virginia.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is expected to request multiple amendments today to legislation that would legalize licensed recreational marijuana sales, with the possibility of a sweeping rewrite still on the table as the midnight deadline approaches.
Under state law, the governor has until 11:59 p.m. on April 13 to take action on the measure. Her options are to sign the bill into law, veto it outright, or return it to lawmakers with recommended amendments. If no action is taken by the deadline, the legislation will automatically become law without her signature.
According to Jason Blanchette, President of the Virginia Cannabis Association, negotiations between the governor’s office and the General Assembly (GA) remain active, with significant changes likely.
“Tons of amendments incoming… negotiations between her admin and the GA ongoing,” Blanchette said in a public statement. “Hopefully we do not see an SNA, but don’t be shocked.”
An SNA, or strike-all amendment, would remove the bill’s existing language entirely and replace it with new provisions, effectively transforming the measure at the final stage of the process. While such a move is less common, it is sometimes used during high-level negotiations when broader changes are being considered.
The legislation in question would establish a regulated market for adult-use marijuana sales in Virginia, something lawmakers have passed multiple times only to be vetoed repeatedly by former-Governor Glenn Youngkin. Any amendments requested by the governor would need to be approved by the legislature before it can be signed into law.
With just hours remaining before the deadline, the scope of potential changes—and whether the governor will allow the bill to take effect unchanged—remains uncertain.