Virginia to Allow Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in 2027
Five years after becoming the first Southern state to legalize cannabis possession in small quantities, Virginia has approved a legal framework for adults to purchase it in stores. State budget legislation enacted Monday will allow up to 350 cannabis shops to open across Virginia beginning July 1, 2027. The move marks the latest expansion of cannabis access through state-level policymaking.
“Virginia legalized adult possession years ago, but without a regulated retail market, we left the illicit market to fill the gap,” state Sen. Lashrecse Aird, a Democrat and legislative leader on the issue, said in a statement earlier this month. “This compromise gives us a smarter and safer path forward — one that protects consumers, keeps products tested and accurately labeled, and creates a legal marketplace that is affordable and accessible enough to actually compete.”
Here’s what to know about Virginia’s new law, the tedious process of enacting retail sales, and how the state going green fits into the national landscape of legalization:
Virginia’s law allows new shops, higher possession limit
Virginia already had a medical marijuana program that allowed patients to purchase it through dispensaries. State regulators will begin accepting applications for retail licenses on February 1, ahead of the July 1, 2027, start date for adult-use sales.
The law increases the state’s possession limit from 1 ounce to 2 ounces (28 grams to 57 grams) and it will continue to allow people to cultivate up to four plants at home.
The state will levy an excise tax on top of its sales tax. According to legislative budget documents, that combination is expected to generate about $51 million in revenue for the state in the program’s initial year.
Legalization Advocates are praising the move
Legalization advocates have generally applauded Virginia’s legislation, although several objected to a provision increasing the civil fines for public consumption, arguing it could lead to disproportionate law enforcement based on race, as state data discovered that Black Virginians were disproportionately targeted by the War on Drugs.
Spanberger made it happen
During the 2010s, Virginia gradually expanded medical marijuana access. In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to legalize possession and home grow. Partisan control of the State government changed in November 2021, and the sales aspect of legalization languished for years. In 2024, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill that would have established adult-use retail.
Current Governor, Democrat Abigail Anne Spanberger, a former intelligence officer, pledged support for adult-use retail sales during her campaign before taking office in January 2026.
While the governor initially vetoed Democratic legislation that stemmed from this year’s legislative session, she eventually worked out a compromise with lawmakers. Those provisions were included in a state budget bill that reached final passage Monday. After lawmakers accepted all of Spanberger’s amendments, they became law, according to the governor’s office.
As to whether this move will cause an uptick in criminality or stoned tourists in hotspots such as Virginia Beach, a police department spokesperson will soon release a statement, and this article will be updated accordingly.
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