States to Watch: East Coast States with Cannabis Bills

Pennsylvania Cannabis Legislation

Pennsylvania is one of the east coast states with cannabis bills to watch. The Republican chair of a key Senate committee in Pennsylvania is anticipated to introduce legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis. Several bills have been put forward, including one that focuses on decriminalization, another that proposes a state-run model for cannabis retail businesses, and a bipartisan bill that emphasizes social equity and small businesses. Lawmakers are expected to vote on these bills in early spring.

The bipartisan bill would feature a comprehensive social equity and economic development plan devised by the Department of Agriculture and the Commonwealth Financing Authority. This legislation establishes a scored, merit-based application process for a limited number of cannabis business licenses in Pennsylvania.

Interested in a recreational cannabis license in Pennsylvania? Schedule a consultation by clicking here or call 602.290.9424.

The state of Pennsylvania legalized medical cannabis in 2016, through a Legislative bill, Senate Bill 3, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment. Access to medical cannabis is through state licensed businesses that are allowed to grow, manufacture and sell medical cannabis.

The medical cannabis license types in Pennsylvania are as follows:

Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Grower/Processor – can grow medical cannabis plants; extract, process and produce medical cannabis products; and sell wholesale to other licensed Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Businesses. There is a limit of twenty-five (25) business licenses allowed for Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Grower/Processor within the state.

Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Dispensary – can purchase medical cannabis from licensed grower/processor facilities and dispense medical cannabis to registered patients. There is a limit of fifty (50) business licenses allowed for Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Dispensaries within the state. Each Dispensary Licensee is allowed to operate up to three (3) stand-alone dispensaries.

Virginia Cannabis Legislation

A Virginia Senate committee approved a proposal to legalize and regulate adult-use marijuana sales. The reintroduced bills (SB 970 and HB 2485) would empower the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to oversee licensing and regulation. Under these proposals, existing medical cannabis businesses in Virginia could open up to five additional retail locations.

The bills also create a microbusiness program aimed at promoting social equity. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria, including having past cannabis convictions, family members with prior convictions, veteran status, residing in disproportionately impacted areas, attending schools where at least 30% of students are eligible for Pell grants, or having received a Pell grant themselves. If approved, retail cannabis sales in Virginia could commence on May 1, 2026.

Interested in a recreational cannabis license in Virginia? Schedule a consultation by clicking here or call 602.290.9424.

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.

The bill created the following license types:

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.

Start preparing early! Call 602-290-9424 or email info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com today to learn more about cannabis business licensing opportunities in Pennsylvania or Virginia. Don’t miss your chance to enter these emerging markets!

Start preparing early! Call 602-290-9424 or email info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com today to learn more about cannabis business licensing opportunities in Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Don’t miss your chance to enter these emerging markets!

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