Spanberger rewrite of cannabis retail market bill includes some harsher penalties, worrying advocates
By Kate Seltzer
Published on April 16, 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has proposed changes to the state's cannabis retail market bill, which includes some harsher penalties, pushing the retail sales start date back by six months to July 1, 2027, reducing the initial number of retail cannabis stores from 350 to 200, and reducing the possession limit to two ounces, down from 2.5 ounces. The changes raise concerns about new criminal penalties and how disadvantaged groups will access the commercial market. The bill also scraps language about how tax revenue generated from legal cannabis sales would be allocated. Critics argue that these changes could allow the illicit market to thrive in every corner store in the market. Bill sponsors also worry that harsher penalties could undermine efforts to decriminalize cannabis.
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