Virginia: Adult-use cannabis sales compromise added to budget!

Senator Lashrecse Aird (D), Delegate Paul Krizek (D), and Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) announced a compromise that clears the path for adult-use cannabis sales in the Commonwealth. The agreed upon language will be included in the budget that needs to be passed by July 1 to avoid a government shutdown. 

The compromise includes some provisions that the governor outlined in her heavily amended version of the legislation passed by the General Assembly this year. Those amendments were rejected, and the governor then vetoed the bill. You can find the differences between the governor’s plan and the General Assembly’s plan here.

The compromise language includes:

• Personal possession amounts will increase from one ounce to two ounces
• Adult-use sales will begin on July 1, 2027
• There will be up to 350 stores across the Commonwealth
• The retail tax will increase from 6% to 8% on July 1, 2029 (in addition to the 5.3% sales tax and localities may add a 1% to 3.5% tax)
• The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (VCCA) will regulate all cannabis products, including hemp products
• The VCCA will be governed by a five-member board appointed by the governor

The compromise included raising the civil fine for public consumption of cannabis products to $250, from the current civil fine of $25. This and other new penalties will go into effect on July 1, 2027, so they have the possibility of being altered in the next legislative session. Possession by those under 21 will remain a $25 civil fine, but also include a mandatory participation in a substance abuse program, education program, or both. This compromise was critical because the governor had wanted misdemeanor criminal charges for those violations.

To the citizens and elected officials of the Old Dominion: congratulations. Once again, Virginia has provided leadership on an issue that matters to millions of Americans.