Virginia Senate Committee Advances Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis Sales

1.1 min readPublished On: January 22nd, 2025By HCN News Team

LOS ANGELES- On January 17, 2025, the Virginia Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee approved Senate Bill 970 (SB 970) with an 8–7 vote along party lines. Introduced by Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach), the bill proposes the establishment of a regulated retail market for adult-use cannabis, with sales anticipated to commence on May 1, 2026.

Senator Rouse emphasized the careful and thoughtful crafting of the legislation, noting that it mirrors a similar bill approved in the 2024 session. The proposed framework allows for the creation of up to 350 retail stores, distributed across the state following the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority model. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee the licensing process, set to begin on September 1, 2025.

Despite the committee’s approval, the bill faces potential challenges. Governor Glenn Youngkin has previously expressed opposition to the commercialization of cannabis, and his stance could influence the bill’s progression.Additionally, the House of Delegates, controlled by Republicans, has historically resisted efforts to establish a retail cannabis market.

Virginia decriminalized cannabis possession in 2021, allowing adults aged 21 and over to legally possess up to one ounce and cultivate up to four plants per household.However, the state has yet to implement a regulated system for retail sales, making it the only jurisdiction with legal possession but no legal market.The advancement of SB 970 represents a significant step toward addressing this gap, aiming to create a structured and safe marketplace for adult-use

About the Author: HCN News Team

The News Team at Highly Capitalized are some of the most experienced writers in cannabis and psychedelics business & finance. We cover capital markets, finance, branding, marketing and everything important in between. Most of all, we follow the money.