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Virginia cannabis history

Reviewed

A person 21 or older may lawfully possess not more than two ounces of marijuana in public. The Cannabis Control Authority says selling or buying adult-use cannabis is illegal, and that retail marijuana sales will begin July 1, 2027. That future date is the Authority’s statement. It is not a statement that retail sales are legal now.

This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the Virginia cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.

At a glance

July 1, 2021A report of the Secretary of Public Safety says that year’s legislation legalized simple possession and private consumption on July 1, 2021.
Current Authority pageThe laws page lists medical cannabis sold by a licensed pharmaceutical processor or dispensing facility as legal, and lists selling or buying adult-use cannabis as illegal.
July 1, 2027The FAQ says non-medical sales are currently illegal and that retail sales will begin July 1, 2027.

Possession and the sales date the Authority states

  1. The same public-safety report says the 2020 General Assembly decriminalized simple possession and reduced it to a civil penalty.
  2. That report also said the 2021 law created a regulatory sales market by January 2024. The Authority’s current pages say buying and selling adult-use cannabis is illegal and give July 1, 2027 for the start of retail sales. The current Authority pages are the sales status used here.
  3. The Authority lists its medical-cannabis program regulations as effective January 1, 2024.
  4. Section 4.1-1100’s history line includes 2026 Special Session I, chapter 1, along with the 2021 chapters.

Sources

Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.

Virginia cannabis laws · Store map