After months of hearings and research, the legislature’s Joint Commission on the Future of Cannabis Sales presented its final proposal on Tuesday. Under the plan, Virginia stores could begin selling marijuana as early as next fall.
The latest version of the bill — sponsored by Commission Chair Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, in the House of Delegates, and Sens. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, in the Senate — eliminates the controversial local opt-out clause, expands local taxing authority, and establishes a licensing system prioritizing small, independent Virginia businesses over large medical marijuana operators.
Krizek stated that these adjustments are not designed to maximize short-term revenue, but to develop a durable, decentralized market that feeds tax revenues back into communities disproportionately damaged by the War on Drugs — even if that requires giving up early financial benefits.
“The goal has been to make sure it is a decentralized market structure, competitive, sustainable, prioritizing independent Virginia-based businesses,” Krizek told The Mercury in an interview last week.
Virginia legalized adult possession of marijuana in 2021, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin has repeatedly vetoed measures seeking to create a legal retail market. However, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has promised to sign such legislation if it reaches her desk.
Under the proposal:
• Retail sales would begin on November 1, 2026.
• Local governments would not be allowed to prohibit marijuana businesses from operating in their area.
• Localities would, however, gain greater taxing authority, with permission to levy up to a 3.5% local tax on marijuana sales.
• Cannabis retailers could not operate within one mile of each other.
• The bill would create a “direct-to-consumer” license allowing micro-businesses to deliver products to adult-use customers’ homes.
• Existing medical cannabis operators could run up to nine adult-use dispensaries if they pay a $10 million licensing conversion fee.
• Top-tier marijuana cultivators would be limited to a maximum canopy size of 35,000 square feet.
• All cannabis businesses would be required to establish a labor peace agreement with workers.
• Officials would need to explore allowing on-site consumption licenses and permits for cannabis events such as farmers markets.
• Up to 50% of initial cannabis licenses would be allocated to micro-businesses, and all licensees would be restricted to a maximum of five total retail and/or cultivation authorizations.
• No sales or transfers of marijuana business licenses could occur without approval from regulators, and unauthorized transfers would result in automatic license suspension.
• Marijuana dispensaries operated by pharmaceutical processors would be required to maintain certain quantities of cannabis sourced from micro-businesses or from manufacturers owned by individuals disproportionately affected by past prohibition.
“Our commission has worked very diligently to review existing law and develop a bill that will not only establish a much needed adult-use retail market here in Virginia, but also reflect what Virginians wanted to be. And we’ve listened to you,” Krizek said in opening remarks on Tuesday.
“Our goal has been to listen, and I think we have. And so this bill hopefully has a little for everybody,” Krizek said. “It builds a new market that supports hundreds of small businesses and strengthens Virginia agriculture, reduces the racial disparities created by the prohibition on marijuana and, most importantly, protects public safety and health.”
- The news is soured from Marijuana Moment
Post time: Dec-04-2025
