Virginia lawmakers have passed a bill to legalize the sale of marijuana, as well as separate legislation to provide a way to reinstate past cannabis convictions.

On Wednesday, the Appropriations Committee of the Assembly was approved Del. Paul Krizek’s Marijuana Sale Legislation (D) 16-6 in the vote. This is coming About a week after advancing a similar measure through a Senate panel.

The Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Safety advanced the legislation with an amendment earlier in the day on a 5-2 vote.

Krizek’s bill, HB 642, is largely in line with the recommendations the lawmaker released last month. Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition to the Commonwealth Retail Cannabis Market.

Since legalizing cannabis ownership and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia lawmakers have been working to establish a commercial marijuana market– Only for those efforts to stall under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who twice vetoed measures sent to his desk by the Legislature.

According to the approved measure, the sale of adult cannabis can begin on November 1. That’s a shorter timeframe than the Senate assistant, which calls for sales to begin on Jan. 1, 2027.

Subcommittee on Wednesday taken The alternative version of the bill changes several key details, including adjusting tax rates and reducing the conversion fee that current medical cannabis companies would have to pay to serve the recreational market.

Here are the key details of the Virginia House legalization of marijuana sales legislation as amended:

• Adults would be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in a single transaction, or up to an equivalent amount of other cannabis products, as determined by regulators.
• The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry. Its board of directors would have the authority to control the possession, sale, transportation, distribution, delivery and testing of marijuana.
• The sale of marijuana products would be subject to a six percent excise tax, which would be subject to the state’s 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax. Local governments may charge an additional tax of 3.5 percent.
• The tax revenue would be divided between the costs of administering and enforcing the state’s marijuana system, a new Cannabis Equity Investment Fund, pre-kindergarten programs, substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs, and public health programs such as awareness campaigns designed to prevent drug-impaired driving and discourage underage use.
• Local governments could not allow marijuana companies to operate in their area.
• Delivery services would be allowed.
• Serving sizes would be limited to 10 milligrams of THC, with no more than 100 mg of THC per package.
• Existing medical cannabis operators could enter the adult-use market if they pay a $5 million license conversion fee.
• Cannabis businesses should implement peaceful labor agreements with their employees.
• A legislative committee would direct the addition of local consumer licenses and micro-enterprise cannabis event permits that would allow licensees to hold sales at farmers markets or pop-up locations. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority would also investigate the possibility of involvement in marijuana regulation and enforcement.

In the Senate, SB 542, a measure sponsored by Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D), to legalize the sale of marijuana, passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. However, it changed in that way drew criticism from advocates for changes that would have imposed new penalties on certain cannabis-related activities such as possession by minors and growing marijuana without a license, which can carry the threat of jail time.

A coalition of reform groups has since sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, where the measure was passed, asking them to withdraw those amendments.

Just sworn Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) supports legalizing the sale of marijuana to adults.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday also approved a bill, SB 62By Sen. Louise Lucas (D), it would create a process to consider changing the sentences under which people incarcerated or under community supervision for certain felonies involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana could receive an automatic trial.

The jury approved the measure in a 10-4 vote.

On the part of the Assembly, the supplementary version of the revision legislation, HB 26 Del. Rozia Henson (D), advanced it through the Appropriations Committee on a 16-6 vote Wednesday.

Earlier, the Subcommittee on General Government and Capital Expenditures approved the measure in a 3-1 vote.

The bill applies to people with convictions or convictions for conduct that occurred before July 1, 2021, when a state law that legalized personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect.

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Separately, the Virginia Senate passed a bill on Tuesday Provide legal protections for hospital staff to facilitate the use of medical marijuana for terminally ill patients in their facilities, as long as cannabis is federally rescheduled.

SB 332 would build on existing state law that protects healthcare professionals in hospices and nursing facilities who help terminally ill patients use medical cannabis treatment. These protections will be extended to hospital workers.

New federal guidance on medical cannabis is drawing attention to a growing gap in Canadian health care: patients are increasingly using cannabis to manage symptoms, but often without consistent clinical education, dosage support or drug interaction screening.

In January 2026, Health Canada published Information on the Medical Uses of Cannabis, a guidance document for consumers that includes contraindications, possible drug interactions, dosing and titration principles, and potential adverse effects.

Legal cannabis products produced and sold in Canada are not licensed to treat specific diseases or symptoms and have not been reviewed to determine whether they are safe or effective for those purposes.

“This is top-to-bottom healthcare,” said Ajay Chahal, PharmD, co-founder of Apothecare. “Health Canada has done the work to put clear guidelines to Canadians, but it’s absurd that patients are still forced to be their own physician educators. We’ve created a reality where patients are forced to turn to budtenders for pseudo-clinical advice, product recommendations for sleep, pain, anxiety or cancer-related symptoms based on anecdotes that work for someone I know. That’s not informed care, it’s a symptom of a system that has failed.”

Health Canada says that the use of cannabis carries health risks that are not yet fully understood and advises Canadians to consult their health care provider before using cannabis for medical purposes.

“That warning should set the system in motion,” said Anushya Vijayaraghevan, PharmD, co-founder of Apothecare. “Patients should not gamble with their health to relieve symptoms. If a patient is taking antidepressants, blood thinners, seizure medications, or has mental health vulnerabilities, the stakes are real. However, patients are often left to make product decisions and trial-and-error dosing with little guidance from the clinical system they are supposed to protect.”

In response to Health Canada’s guidelines, Apothecare is calling for four immediate actions to close the cannabis education gap in Canadian healthcare. First, medical cannabis education should be integrated into the core training of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and allied health providers, with standardized learning outcomes that address dosage, contraindications, impairment, and drug interactions. Cannabis is already being used by patients across the country, and clinicians need a shared baseline of knowledge to manage it safely and consistently.

Second, clinical cannabis counseling should be established as a standard for patient safety. Canadians deserve access to evidence-based guidance that is medically responsible, consistent across care settings and independent of retail environments. Without clinical advice, patients are often left to navigate complex decisions on their own, increasing the risk of misuse, adverse effects, or missed interactions with other therapies.

Third, continuing education requirements through professional organizations need to be modernized so that clinicians can keep pace as cannabis use becomes more common for symptom management. Continuing education allows health care providers to confidently counsel patients, analyze risk factors, and adapt care as evidence evolves, rather than relying on outdated information or comfort levels.

Finally, cannabis should be treated like other pharmacologically active therapies in routine care. This means standardizing patient disclosure, documenting use in medical records, and supporting appropriate follow-up and monitoring. By moving away from a trial-and-error approach, it will help integrate cannabis into standard care practices and improve patient safety and outcomes.

“This is not about being for or against cannabis,” Vijayaragheva said. “It’s about accountability. The system can’t ignore something this widespread and then act surprised when patients are confused, underinformed or harmed. We have the knowledge and the clinical space to do better, but it needs to be prioritized.”

“This should not be controversial,” Chahal said. “If millions of Canadians use cannabis for medical purposes, then millions of Canadians deserve professional-level education, consistent clinical supervision and clear safety standards.”

For more information:
Apothecare
https://apothecare.ca/

New Hampshire senators have rejected it The bill passed by the House to legalize marijuana in the state.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday on Rep. Jared Sullivan’s (D) HB 186, debating its merits as lawmakers push again to end the ban as neighboring states have done. After taking testimony, however, the jury voted 2-1 that the measure is “unfit to legislate.”

The bill passed by a vote of 208-135 last month.

“This provides a very good framework for how we would regulate the sale of cannabis and cannabis products in the state,” Sullivan told senators before the committee’s vote.

“I understand that it’s not a popular idea among many members, but I would say it’s a very popular idea among most people in the state,” he said. “The most recent poll I could find shows 70 percent of people in the state want legalization, including 55 percent of Republicans. I think it’s time to do what people want to do and match what most places in this country are doing now.”

In New Hampshire, all bills are considered for a vote even when they receive a negative committee recommendation, so the panel’s decision may be overturned by the full Senate when the legislation is taken up.

If enacted, HB 186 would make it legal for anyone over the age of 21 to possess cannabis products containing 10 grams of concentrate and 2 grams of THC. Six plants could also be grown at home, three of which could be mature.

Past cannabis possession convictions would be vacated, and non-discriminatory protections would be established for consumers, including for medical care, public benefits, child care and government employment.

A new Cannabis Commission would be created to license and regulate the marijuana industry, along with a Cannabis Advisory Board.

Sales of recreational cannabis would be taxed at 8.5 percent, with revenue split between the program’s administration, municipalities, substance abuse programs, public safety agencies and the state’s general fund.

Localities across the state would hold ballot referendums asking voters whether they want to allow the retail sale of marijuana.

“Prohibition makes control impossible. Unregulated cannabis is often contaminated with obscenities, dangerous pesticides and heavy metals,” Marihuana Policy Project (MPP) state policy director Karen O’Keefe said in testimony to the commission. “Legislation only supports common sense rules: requiring licensees to verify ID, banning lab testing, pesticides and dangerous additives, and mandating child-friendly packaging.”

“Adults should be treated as adults in the live or die state. The High Court has not banned eating junk food, being sedentary, climbing, riding motorcycles or drinking alcohol, despite the risks involved in these activities,” he said. “The Granite States fully agree that even adults should not be punished by their government for using cannabis, a plant that is far less toxic, addictive and addictive than alcohol.”

Sullivan’s legalization proposal is one of several cannabis proposals introduced for the 2026 session, including legislation by Rep. Jonah Wheeler (D), which seeks to put a constitutional amendment on the state ballot. let voters decide whether they want to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older“having a modest amount of cannabis for their personal use.” Members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee took up that bill at the end of last month.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) has already threatened to veto the legalization bill that reaches his desk, even though the proposal to amend the Constitution would not require gubernatorial action.

The governor said in August his position on the reform it would not change, even if the federal government moved forward with reorganizing the plant. Since then, President Donald Trump has ordered the attorney general to complete the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I to III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

At a committee meeting last year, Sullivan ultimately made a persuasive argument for moving forward with his legalization bill, pointing out. The House has repeatedly passed similar legislation and that the House should stand its ground, forcing the Senate and the governor to once again oppose a policy that is popular with voters.

“We know where it’s going. Let’s send a virtue signal,” Sullivan said. “Let them be the ones to piss off the voters who care about this.”

In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee also took up a bill by Sen. Donovan Fenton (D) last month. this allows adults over the age of 21 to possess up to four ounces of cannabis in plant form and 20 grams of concentrated cannabis products, as well as other products containing no more than 2,000 milligrams of THC.

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It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

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Meanwhile, New Hampshire lawmakers recently advanced a bipartisan bill legalize the regulated use of psilocybin for medical purposeswhile omitting a separate measure on therapeutic access to psychedelics.

Last June, the New Hampshire Senate voted to repeal the compromise legislation It would lower the state’s criminal penalty for first-time possession of psilocybin also creating mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl.

As originally introduced, the legislation would completely remove the penalties for obtaining, purchasing, transporting, possessing or using psilocybin, effectively legalizing it on an off-trade basis. However, a The House Committee amended the bill before it could advance unanimously last march

user photo Brian Shamblen.