Virginia Gov.-Elect Abigail Spanberger Supports Adult-Use Cannabis Sales

Abigail Spanberger (D), a former Congresswoman and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was elected as Virginia’s governor, defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears 57.5% to 42.3%. Spanberger will take the reins from Republican Glenn Youngkin, who was term-limited and had blocked adult-use cannabis sales in the commonwealth during his time as governor, despite the reforms passing the Legislature in 2021.

Spanberger has earned an ‘A’ grade from NORML and during the campaign promised to allow adult-use cannabis sales to proceed. In August, Spanberger told WTVR that she would work with the “General Assembly to find a path forward to creating a legalized retail market for cannabis that both prioritizes public safety and grows Virginia’s economy.”   

In an interview last year with RVA Magazine, Spanberger said officials “need a clear strategy and plan to transition Virginia” into a legalized cannabis market with a focus on health and safety issues associated with the reforms. She noted that during her time in Congress, she supported the various versions of the SAFE Banking Act – including co-sponsoring the 2019 version of the legislation – which would have normalized banking and financial services for state-licensed cannabis companies.    

“We also need to make sure that [tax] revenues flow into Virginia and are used to strengthen our communities and public schools. This involves building a fair retail market that would give genuine opportunities to entrepreneurs, farmers, and communities – across the board. I don’t know that I would call this an emerging market but we need a formalized, legal, emerging cannabis market.” — Spanberger to RVA Magazine, 5/1/2024   

During her congressional campaign, Spanberger voiced support for removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and allowing states to set their own cannabis policies “without federal interference.” 

Spanberger also supported legislation that would have ended the federal prohibition of cannabis (HR.1227) and HR.1220, which would have rescheduled cannabis from a Class I drug under the CSA to a Class III drug. Both of those bills stalled in committee.