ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — Gov. Abigail Spanberger has just a few more days to decide how to act on legislation that would legalize retail marijuana sales.
Spanberger has until 11:59 p.m. Saturday to sign or veto the legislation.
Last month, the general assembly rejected more than 40 changes to the legislation proposed by the governor, including delaying the start of retail sales to July 1, 2027.
RELATED | Virginia marijuana retail bill awaits Spanberger’s call as May deadline looms
“Five years ago, the Commonwealth took the first steps to legalize marijuana — and for five years, the work sat unfinished,” said Spanberger when she sent her changes to the general assembly last month. “We are working to set up a marketplace that is controlled, regulated, and responsible — because legal markets only succeed when there are clear guardrails and enforcement to back it up.”
The governor said at the time that delaying the start of sales would help hold vape shops that target kids accountable.
The two Democratic authors of the bills pushed back on Spanberger’s changes to the proposed retail marijuana law, prior to the legislature rejecting her amendments.
RELATED | Virginia General Assembly reject some of Gov. Spanberger’s bill amendments
“By making the legal market harder to access, this proposal allows the illicit market to continue to thrive in every corner store in our Commonwealth,” said State Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D- Henrico) in a statement.
“These changes reduce the number of available licenses, delay the launch of retail sales and impose high barriers to entry, resulting in revenue losses, delayed economic opportunity for market participants and the elimination of investment in small businesses,” said Del. Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax) in a statement.
Todd Gathje, PhD, the vice president of government relations for The Family Foundation, a nonprofit faith-based organization, argues legalizing retail sales will only make the illicit black market more competitive and will be harmful to communities.
“You establish a regulatory framework, you create a tax system — users are going to want to go to someplace where they can get it a cheaper, maybe even a more higher potency of THC,” Gathje said.
“Five years after the Virginia General Assembly legalized marijuana for adults, there still exists no regulated cannabis sales system outside of the medical program,” JM Pedini, development director for NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said in a statement to 7News. “Continuing to delay legal access will only drive more consumers to the predatory illicit market, endangering Virginia’s vulnerable youth and posing significant public health and public safety risks.”
“The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators believe that any legislation legalizing perception-altering substances must include strict, proactive guardrails to protect our youth and drivers,” the associations said in a statement to 7News, adding they are not taking a position on either version of the legislation. “Ensuring law enforcement has the regulatory framework, training, and tools necessary to keep impaired drivers off our roads and protect our communities is our priority.”