VIRGINIA CANNABIS PROGRAM
VIRGINIA
STATE STATUS
Adult-use and medical marijuana are legal in the state of Virginia. Virginia legalized medical cannabis in 2018, through a Legislative bill, House Bill 1251.
On April 7, 2021, Virginia legalized adult-use marijuana through House Bill 2312 also known as Senate Bill 1406. Virginia is now the 16th state within the U.S. to legalize adult-use marijuana, allowing for marijuana possession of up to one ounce and consumption for individuals 21 years and older. Access to marijuana will be through state-licensed marijuana businesses. Virginia Cannabis Control authority will be responsible for regulating the adult-use marijuana program.
Learn more about how to get a Virginia cannabis business license or schedule a complimentary consultation with application/licensing team, below.
Hemp
Yes
Medical Marijuana
Yes
Adult-Use Marijuana
Yes
When to Apply
TBD
News
Adult-Use Marijuana Licenses Available
Marijuana Cultivation License – Allows for the cultivation, labeling, and packaging of retail marijuana; and to purchase or take possession of marijuana plants and seeds from other marijuana cultivation facilities. Under this license, you can sell retail marijuana, immature marijuana plants, and marijuana seeds to marijuana wholesalers and retail marijuana stores; as well as transfer possession of and sell retail marijuana, marijuana plants, and marijuana seeds to other marijuana cultivation facilities; and transfer possession of and sell retail marijuana to marijuana manufacturing facilities; and to sell immature marijuana plants and marijuana seeds to consumers for the purpose of cultivating marijuana at home for personal use.
There will be two (2) types of cultivation licenses:
Class A cultivation facility license, which caps the number of marijuana plants and square feet per area, as determined by the board.
Class B cultivation facility license, which allows for the cultivation of marijuana plants with no more than 1% of THC.
Marijuana Manufacturing License – Allows a licensee to manufacture, label, and package retail marijuana and retail marijuana products; and to purchase or take possession of retail marijuana from a marijuana cultivation facility or another marijuana manufacturing facility; and to transfer possession of and sell retail marijuana and retail marijuana products to marijuana wholesalers, retail marijuana stores, or other marijuana manufacturing facilities.
Marijuana Testing Facility License – Allows a licensee to develop, research, or test marijuana, marijuana products, and other substances.
Marijuana Wholesaler License – Allows for the purchase or to take possession of retail marijuana, retail marijuana products, immature marijuana plants, and marijuana seeds from a marijuana cultivation facility, a marijuana manufacturing facility, or another marijuana wholesaler. As well as to transfer possession and sell or resell retail marijuana, retail marijuana products, immature marijuana plants, and marijuana seeds to a marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana manufacturing facility, retail marijuana store, or another marijuana wholesaler.
Marijuana Retail License – A retailer can purchase or take possession of retail marijuana, retail marijuana products, immature marijuana plants, or marijuana seeds from a marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana manufacturing facility, or marijuana wholesaler and sell retail marijuana, retail marijuana products, immature marijuana plants, or marijuana seeds to consumers.
The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority will establish a criteria to evaluate new licensees based on the density of retail marijuana stores in the community and metrics that have similarly shown an association with negative community-level health outcomes or health disparities.
| Types of Marijuana | Limit of Licenses to be Issued |
| Retailer | 400 |
| Wholesaler | 25 |
| Manufacturer | 60 |
| Cultivation | 450 |
HOW TO START A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN VIRGINIA
To operate a marijuana business in Virginia, you will need the following plans:
- Security Plan
- Environmental Impact Plan
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan
- Business Plan
- Financial Plan
- Community Benefits Plan
- Research Plan
- Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan
- Labor Compliance Plan
- Staffing and Training Plan
Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application expert to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.
PROGRAM TIMELINE:
March 2018 – Virginia legalized low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis.
June 2018 – Virginia licensing period for medical cannabis processors.
2020 – First Virginia medical cannabis processors anticipated to open.
2021 – Two separate bill passed: Senate Bill 1406 and House Bill 2312.
TBD – Virginia lawmakers must resolve an impasse over recreational cannabis sales before applications can become available
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Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner