Virginia lawmakers took another decisive step Tuesday toward launching a legal cannabis retail market in 2026, unveiling a revised legislative blueprint that scraps local opt-outs, tightens ownership rules and aims to favor small, independent operators over deep-pocketed national brands. The Joint Commission on the Future of Cannabis Sales met for the final time before the […]
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Cannabis plants under cultivation. A Virginia commission on Tuesday advanced a revised plan for a legal retail market that emphasizes testing, zoning controls and small-business access. (Photo by Pixabay/Creative Commons license)
Virginia lawmakers took another decisive step Tuesday toward launching a legal cannabis retail market in 2026, unveiling a revised legislative blueprint that scraps local opt-outs, tightens ownership rules and aims to favor small, independent operators over deep-pocketed national brands.
The Joint Commission on the Future of Cannabis Sales met for the final time before the General Assembly gavels in this January, capping months of hearings, stakeholder briefings and community meetings.
