Virginia House Appropriations Committee Advances Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis Sales 16 to 6
- Virginia’s House Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 642 to establish a regulated adult-use marijuana market, advancing it to the full House of Delegates for consideration.
- The bill creates a comprehensive licensing system for cultivation, processing, testing, distribution, and retail sales, overseen by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority with strict operational and compliance requirements.
- It increases the legal possession limit to 2.5 ounces for adults 21 and older, mandates age verification for retail sales, and allows consumption within regulated limits, while maintaining the existing medical marijuana program separately.
- The legislation proposes a Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund to direct tax revenues toward communities affected by past drug enforcement, supporting workforce development, education, reentry services, and business loans.
Legislation that would establish a regulated adult-use marijuana market in Virginia was approved today by the House Appropriations Committee in a 16 to 6 vote, sending the measure to the full House of Delegates for consideration. House Bill 642, introduced by Delegate Paul Krizek (D), creates a comprehensive framework for licensed cultivation, processing, testing, wholesale distribution and retail sales of marijuana for adults 21 and older. The version advanced by the committee is a substitute bill that spans more than 100 pages and makes extensive amendments to the Code of Virginia to implement a regulated retail system.
Under the proposal, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee the adult-use market, including licensing, compliance, enforcement and product safety standards. Separate license categories would be established across the supply chain, including cultivators, manufacturers, testing laboratories, wholesalers and retailers. Businesses would be subject to operational requirements covering product tracking, security protocols, advertising restrictions, employee training and recordkeeping.
The bill also increases the legal possession limit for adults 21 and older from one ounce to 2.5 ounces. Retail sales would be limited to those 21 and older, with mandatory age verification and restrictions on where marijuana may be sold and consumed.
Medical marijuana would continue operating under its existing structure, with the new adult-use system functioning alongside it rather than replacing it.
The proposal would also establish the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, which would direct marijuana tax revenue toward communities historically and disproportionately impacted by drug enforcement. Funds could be used for workforce development, job training, reentry services, scholarships and other educational resources, as well as contributions to a cannabis equity business loan fund.
Previous efforts to authorize retail sales in Virginia were vetoed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin, leaving the commonwealth as the only state that allows adult possession of marijuana without a legal retail market. However, the state now has a new governor that supports allow licensed adult-use cannabis sales.
With today’s 16 to 6 vote in Appropriations, HB 642 now heads to the full House.