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 told The Marijuana Herald. “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. Although it’s uncertain what specific amendments Spanberger is planning to request, it’s expected that at least some of them will relate to how hemp-derived cannabinoid products are regulated.
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.
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