Legislation filed today in the Virginia House of Delegates by Delegate Paul Krizek (D) would create a comprehensive framework for legal adult-use marijuana sales, in addition to increasing the legal possession limit from one ounce to 2.5 ounces. Committee referral for the measure is pending.
Virginia currently allows the possession of marijuana for those 21 and older, but has not implemented a legal retail system outside of the medical marijuana program. Krizek’s proposal is designed to fill that gap by establishing a statewide structure for regulated adult-use cultivation, processing, testing, wholesale distribution, and retail sales.
Under the legislation (House Bill 642) the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would serve as the primary regulatory body overseeing the adult-use market, including licensing, compliance requirements, and more. Adult-use marijuana businesses would be licensed across the entire supply chain, with separate licenses for cultivators, manufacturers, testing laboratories, wholesalers, and retailers. Licensees would be subject to detailed operational rules covering product tracking, security, advertising restrictions, employee training, and recordkeeping.
Similar to other legal cannabis states, retail sales would be limited to adults 21 and older, with mandatory ID checks and restrictions on where marijuana could be sold and consumed. The Cannabis Control Authority would have enforcement powers ranging from fines and license suspensions to revocation for serious or repeated violations, while also overseeing product testing standards to ensure marijuana sold to consumers meets safety and labeling requirements.
Medical marijuana would remain regulated under its existing structure, with adult-use provisions operating alongside it rather than replacing it.
Equity and reinvestment are central components of the bill. It expands and codifies the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, directing future marijuana tax revenue toward communities disproportionately impacted by past drug enforcement. Funds would support workforce development, job training, reentry programs, educational initiatives, and grants aimed at increasing participation in the legal marijuana industry. The bill also establishes a cannabis equity business loan program intended to help eligible applicants access startup and expansion capital.
While the bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, its filing comes as lawmakers convene for the 2026 session, with renewed attention on unresolved marijuana policy issues. Previous efforts to authorize retail sales have been vetoed by the state’s former governor Glen Youngkin, leaving Virginia in a position where it’s the only state to allow adult possession but prohibit licensed sales.
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