Virginia is Expected to Launch Retail Marijuana Market Following Election
With Democrat Abigail Spanberger set to take office as Virginia’s governor and Democrats in control of both houses of the General Assembly, the state is likely to introduce a retail marijuana market in 2026. Currently, adults over 21 can use and possess marijuana, but there is no legal retail market.
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has been advocating for the legalization of retail marijuana sales in Virginia and expects the General Assembly’s Joint Commission to introduce a bill in the 2026 session that would allow the sale of marijuana for recreational use. If passed and signed into law, retail sales could begin as early as July in dispensaries that currently only sell medical marijuana.
JM Pedini, Development Director of NORML, believes that launching a retail market will have several benefits, including taking marijuana out of the hands of illicit operators and allowing for strict consumer safety standards. Pedini also notes that the state can ensure that only adults 21 and older can purchase marijuana.
However, organizations like Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) are opposed to the idea of a retail marijuana market in Virginia. SAM is concerned about the potential increase in marijuana use among youth and the addictiveness of the drug. Jordan Davidson, Government Affairs Director of SAM, argues that legal marijuana companies are following the big tobacco playbook to create a base of addicted customers and that advertising should be restricted or banned.
Davidson also suggests that Virginia should place a THC potency cap on the marijuana that may be sold, citing the dramatic increase in potency since marijuana legalization began to spread. He hopes that Governor-Elect Spanberger’s administration will prioritize health and safety when regulating the market.
While some state legislators were reached out to for comment, none responded.
