Spanberger vetoes Virginia marijuana bill, delaying sales again
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Gov. Spanberger on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would've launched legal retail marijuana sales in Virginia.
Why it matters: It's the third time in three years the Virginia governor vetoed this legislation — but the first time with a Democrat in the executive mansion, and while the party held a trifecta in state government.
State of play: As passed, the retail marijuana marketplace legislation lacked the structure, timeline and resources to be successful, Spanberger wrote in her veto statement.
- Specifically, she wrote that the state's retail market needed to have a clear enforcement authority and framework for product testing, inspections and compliance, plus "robust tools to crack down" on illegal sales.
- The legislation the General Assembly passed this year called for retail sales to begin in January, plus set up the framework for tax rates, license caps, enforcement and more.
Between the lines: Spanberger proposed multiple amendments to that legislation, including delaying the start of sales until July 1, plus reducing the number of stores allowed and increasing the tax rate.
- State legislators rejected the governor's changes when they reconvened last month and sent it back for Spanberger as is.
What they're saying: "The Governor's veto ignores the reality that cannabis is already being sold every day across Virginia," Sen. Lashrecse Aird and Del. Paul Krizek, the legislators who helped craft and sponsor the bills, said in a joint statement.
- "The only question is whether we as leaders will finally ensure those sales occur within a legal, regulated market or continue turning a blind eye to a booming illicit market while pretending to be outraged by its existence," their statement continued.
Flashback: In 2021, Virginia became the first state in the South to legalize possession of marijuana, but Democratic lawmakers decided to wait a year to work on the retail marketplace.
- Then they lost control of the House and governor's office.
- Democrats and eventually some Republicans have been working since then to get legal recreational weed sales off the ground in Virginia.
- Now they'll have to wait (at least) another year.
What we're watching: Spanberger said she's "committed to working with members of the General Assembly, stakeholders and law enforcement to get this right."