Five years after Virginia legalized simple possession of adult marijuana, lawmakers are deadlocked on how to finally create a legal retail market after the General Assembly last week rejected more than 40 changes proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger and sent the legislation back to her desk.

The move leaves Spanberger with a binary choice: Sign the long-discussed proposal to launch retail sales, or veto it and prolong a years-long stalemate that has left Virginia in a legal gray area where cannabis is legal to possess but not legally to buy.

The deputy governorwhich disappointed many lawmakers and stakeholders, would delay the latest start of retail sales until July 1, 2027, while restructuring much of the legislative framework were negotiating during the session.

“Five years ago, the commonwealth took the first steps to legalize marijuana — and for five years, the job remained unfinished,” Spanberger said in a statement.

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