Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..
Mainly clear. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: June 13, 2026 @ 7:23 pm
CHATHAM, Va. — A tentative agreement announced June 12 between Virginia lawmakers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger to establish a legal recreational marijuana marketplace could eventually bring new business opportunities and expanded cannabis access to Danville and Pittsylvania County.
The proposed compromise comes less than a month after Spanberger vetoed legislation on May 19 that would have created Virginia’s first regulated adult-use marijuana market. Following weeks of negotiations, lawmakers and the governor’s office announced June 12 that they had reached a tentative agreement on a new framework, with additional details expected to be released June 16.
The development is significant for Southern Virginia because Danville is already home to a medical cannabis dispensary operated by RISE, one of the state’s licensed medical marijuana providers. While the tentative agreement would not immediately change the medical cannabis program, it could eventually expand access to legal cannabis products beyond the current medical system.
Virginia legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and limited home cultivation in July 2021, but lawmakers have never established a legal retail marketplace for adult-use cannabis sales.
Del. Paul Krizek, one of the lead sponsors of marijuana legislation in the House of Delegates, announced June 12 that negotiators had reached a deal with the governor’s office as lawmakers continue work on the state budget.
Under the tentative agreement, licensed recreational marijuana sales would begin July 1, 2027. That date is six months later than the Jan. 1, 2027, launch date approved by lawmakers earlier this year and reflects one of the governor’s key concerns about allowing additional time for implementation and regulatory oversight.
The proposal would increase the legal possession and purchase limit for adults from the current 1-ounce limit to 2 ounces.
The agreement would also increase the civil penalty for public marijuana consumption from the current $25 fine to $250. In addition, the state would provide additional funding for the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, which would oversee licensing, regulation and enforcement of the new market.
The compromise would increase Virginia’s marijuana excise tax from 6% to 8% beginning two years after legal sales start. Other state and local taxes would continue to apply to retail purchases.
It remains unclear whether local governments would have authority to limit or prohibit marijuana businesses under the final agreement. Earlier versions of the legislation would not have allowed localities to opt out of permitting licensed cannabis businesses, but final details have not yet been released.
Supporters of legalization argue that a regulated marketplace would provide consumer protections, product testing requirements and age-verification standards while generating tax revenue for the state. Opponents have expressed concerns about public health, impaired driving and youth access to cannabis products.
The General Assembly is expected to complete work on the state budget before July 1. Krizek said lawmakers and the governor’s office plan to release additional details about the agreement on June 16.
If approved, the legislation would establish Virginia’s first regulated recreational marijuana marketplace, creating a legal retail market that has been absent since marijuana possession was legalized in 2021.
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