Virginia has approved legislation that would legalize recreational marijuana.
By a vote of 21 to 19, the Senate advanced Senate Bill 970 to the state’s House of Representatives. Approval through the House would send the measure to Governor Glenn Youngkin, who has promised to veto the bill. The legislature can override a veto, but only with a 2/3rds majority.
Sponsored by State Senators Aaron Rouse (D), Jennifer Carroll Foy (D), and Lashrecse Aird (D), Senate Bill 970 would establish a retail marijuana market in Virginia, which remains the only one of the 24 states with legal marijuana to prohibit retail sales.
The bill proposes a regulatory framework to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Under the legislation, the authority could begin issuing licenses for marijuana-related businesses starting September 1, 2025, with sales beginning by May 1, 2026.
Key provisions of the bill include more than doubling the legal possession limit for individuals 21 and older from one ounce to 2.5 ounces and creating a licensing system for cultivation, processing, testing, and retail sales.
Virginia legalized the possession of marijuana in 2021 for those 21 and older but has yet to establish a legal framework for sales. Advocates of Senate Bill 970 argue that its passage is critical to providing regulated access, addressing public safety concerns, and ensuring that Virginia no longer lags behind other states with legal marijuana markets.
