Virginia is on the verge of sweeping changes to its marijuana laws. Lawmakers sent ten cannabis-related bills to the desk of Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger for her review.
Adult-Use Retail Sales
Legislation (Senate Bill 542 and House Bill 642) to legalize and regulate the retail sale of cannabis to adults 21 and older, patroned by Senator Lashrecse Aird (D-13) and by Delegate Paul Krizek (D-16), have been approved by members of the Virginia General Assembly.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate passed the measures on Saturday following negotiations to reconcile differences between the two chambers’ proposals. The House and Senate compromise bill initiates retail sales on January 1, 2027 and keeps the sales tax below 15 percent. Only two Republicans voted in favor of the bills, Delegates Will Morefield (R-43) and Wren Williams (R-47).
The bills now head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who has previously expressed support for regulating retail sales.
“This marks another historic victory for cannabis freedom in the South,” said NORML Development Director JM Pedini, who worked closely with lawmakers in support of the legislation. “Virginia adults deserve safe access to high quality cannabis that is accurately tested, clearly labeled, and fairly taxed. This legislation aims to deliver just that through the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority beginning January 1, 2027.”
In 2021, Virginia enacted legislation legalizing the use, possession, and personal cultivation of marijuana by adults. That legislation called upon lawmakers to approve retail sales in a subsequent 2022 vote. However, when Republicans gained control of the House and Governorship in 2022, they failed to advance legislation to do so.
After Democrats regained the House, their 2024 and 2025 legislative efforts to regulate retail sales were vetoed by former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
“It’s been five years since Virginia legalized cannabis. The illicit market exploded during Youngkin’s term,” added Pedini, who also serves as the executive director of the state chapter, Virginia NORML. “The majority of Virginia voters support taking marijuana out of smoke shops and corner stores and placing it behind age-verified dispensary counters where it may be sold only to adults 21 and older. In addition to improving consumer safety, regulated sales will reinvest millions of tax dollars in Virginia communities and replace the underground market that drains local resources.”
Parental Rights
Virginia lawmakers approved House Bill 942, patroned by Delegate Nadarius Clark (D-84), to protect the parental rights of adults who lawfully possess or consume cannabis in accordance with Virginia law. In 2024 and 2025, Youngkin vetoed similar legislation that had succeeded with strong bipartisan support.
Medical Cannabis
Lawmakers unanimously approved legislation to improve the state”s medical cannabis program. House Bill 391, introduced by Delegate Alex Askew (D-95), significantly clarifies product labeling for consumers and codifies permissible delivery locations. In 2025, Youngkin also vetoed similar legislation that had succeeded with strong bipartisan support.
Resentencing
Lawmakers approved a pair of sentence modification bills introduced by Delegate Rozia Henson (D-19) and Senator Louise Lucas (D-18). House Bill 26 and Senate Bill 62 create a process by which those convicted of certain marijuana felonies committed prior to July 1, 2021, and who still remain incarcerated or on probation or community supervision on July 1, 2026, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of their sentence. Similar efforts, including those championed by Republicans, were defeated in every year of Youngkin’s term.
“The time to address sentence modification for cannabis related offenses was at the moment that legalization became reality in Virginia,” said Nolef Turns Executive Director Sheba Williams. “We had multiple opportunities to do what was right and necessary each year under the Youngkin administration but failed to address the most significant harm of prohibition — the people who have been impacted,” added Williams, who serves on the Virginia NORML Board of Directors and is appointed to the Virginia Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board.
Additional information on this and other pending statewide legislation is available from Virginia NORML.
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