Virginia election a victory for cannabis policy!

After four years of a state government led by prohibitionist Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), the Old Dominion State voted to change course and overwhelmingly elected Abigail Spanberger (D), who supports legalizing adult-use cannabis sales. Spanberger is also the Commonwealth’s first female governor. 

In the House of Delegates, the Democrats appear to have expanded their majority from 51-48 to 64-36. The implementation of legal cannabis sales was a cornerstone of the Democrats’ platform, and the voters resoundingly endorsed that platform. The state Senate did not have elections and has a Democratic majority (21-19).

While the General Assembly has passed many cannabis policy reforms in the past two years, Gov. Youngkin vetoed a vast majority of them. Those include resentencing, parental rights, and expanding medical cannabis delivery options, in addition to allowing adult-use cannabis sales. 

We expect adult-use sales legislation to be submitted before the end of the year. The bills may be more robust than previous legislation, which was crafted in an attempt to placate Gov. Youngkin. The 2026 legislative session begins on January 14, 2026, and is scheduled to adjourn on March 16.

If you live in Virginia, let your legislators know you support adult-use cannabis sales!

We will keep you up to date on how the General Assembly progresses in Richmond next year. Together, we will finish what was started in 2021 with the legalization of possession and personal homegrow. Now it is time to implement the will of the voters by passing legislation for adult-use sales!