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Virginia Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Sales Legalization And Resentencing Bills

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3 weeks ago

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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.

—
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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

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.

Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has published a new determining workplace protections for cannabis users.

Photo by Mike Latimer.

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Cannabis products recalled due to “unreliable” tests

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11 hours ago

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March 3, 2026

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New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has recalled several cannabis products after finding that reported results from a testing laboratory were “unreliable.”

OCM says it has found a total of 54 product lots that tested false positive for Aspergillus, the mold that causes disease. According to OCM, another batch of product had incorrect results for the heavy metal cadmium.

“When test results are inaccurate or unclear, product safety and, in turn, the safety of New York State consumers cannot be guaranteed,” said OCM Executive Deputy Director of Licensing, Enforcement and Laboratories Stephen Geskey. “It’s not a risk OCM is willing to take.”

This information comes from an audit of inspections and records conducted by Keystone State Testing New York between December 2025 and January 2026. According to OCM, there have been no reports of the effects of consuming any of the products.

Read more at News 10










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Virginia House And Senate Lawmakers Advance Marijuana Sales Legalization Bills Toward Governor’s Desk

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11 hours ago

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March 3, 2026

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The march to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in Virginia continues, with the full House of Representatives and a Senate committee advancing a pair of bills to create a regulated adult cannabis market in the commonwealth.

The House on Tuesday approved the second reading of the cannabis sale bill passed by the Senate, giving it the chance to pass it definitively in the chamber. Earlier, a House measure moved through the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on a 10-5 vote, sending the measure back to the floor for consideration.

Both chambers’ marijuana-sale proposals aim to give adults a legal way to buy cannabis, legalizing both state possession and home cultivation in 2021, though there are key differences between them.

Bicameral measures—HB 642 and SB 542—Recently changed to allow micro business licensees to cultivate, process or conduct retail sales at two locations instead of one, as long as they are within 10 miles of each other and operate under common ownership and control.

Lawmakers also revised the legislation to clarify that current medical cannabis businesses would only be able to grow cannabis indoors, including in secure greenhouses with a total hood of 70,000 square feet. The amendments also would not allow additional marijuana licenses with “dual-use privileges” beyond medical licenses.

Finally, the measure’s conversion fee structure was revised to pay current medical marijuana companies the privilege of dividing the adult-use market into three parts.

There are some key differences between the House bills that still need to be ironed out — related to the start date of legal sales and cannabis tax rates — before a final product can be delivered to the governor’s desk.

Here are the key details of Virginia’s marijuana sales legalization legislation, SB 542 and HB 642:

  • 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 House bill sets a statewide sales date of Nov. 1, 2026, while the Senate measure would allow it to begin on Jan. 1, 2027.
  • The Senate bill would impose a 12.875 percent excise tax on cannabis products, in addition to a 1.125 percent state sales tax and a mandatory 3 percent local tax. The House measure would apply a 6 percent excise tax, as well as a 5.3 percent retail sales and use tax, allowing municipalities to impose a 3.5 percent local tax.
  • Under the House bill, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would oversee licensing and regulation of the new industry, while the Senate legislation calls for a new combined Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control Authority.
  • The House bill calls for the proceeds to be allocated to a new Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (60 percent), early childhood education (10 percent), the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Health Services (25 percent) and public health initiatives (5 percent). The Senate proposal, on the other hand, would put 30 percent into the capital reinvestment fund, 40 percent for early childhood education, 25 percent for the department of behavioral and developmental health services and 5 percent for public health initiatives.
  • 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 license conversion fee set at $15 million in the Senate bill and $10 million in the House measure.
  • 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.

Both the Virginia House and Senate Last month, he took action on multiple marijuana bills during a major deadline—accept proposals to legalize the sale of cannabis, provide a way to punish previous marijuana convictions and allow access to medical cannabis for seriously ill patients in hospitals.

As for the Senate marijuana sales bill, members recently clashed in committee over amendments to the body version that would add new penalties for illegal cannabis activity.

The amendments in the Judiciary Committee’s case included penalties for consumers who purchase from unlicensed sources, recriminalizing possession and sale of cannabis by those under 21, making it a Class 1 felony for a first offense and a felony punishable by a mandatory prison sentence for a second offense. As revised, the bill would also increase the penalty for unlicensed cultivation to a felony with up to five years in prison and make it a felony to transport cannabis with the intent to distribute it across state lines.

But the Finance and Appropriations Committee backed down the amendments last month, sending a letter to senators under pressure from a coalition of advocacy groups. saying that they undermined the “intent” of the legislation and “the will of the people” by adding criminal penalties to certain cannabis-related activities.

In general, both chambers’ commercial sales bills have largely aligned with recommendations released by the legislature in December. Joint Committee to Oversee the Transition to the Commonwealth Retail Cannabis Market.

Meanwhile, some members of the GOP have aligned ideologically with their Democratic colleagues throughout this legislative process, breaking with the majority of their caucus. in favor of creating a regulated market for adults to buy cannabis.

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.

Governor Abigail Spanberger (D), for her part, supports legalizing the sale of marijuana to adults..

Meanwhile, members of the Virginia House and Senate advanced a pair of bills Monday, with amendments that provide a pathway to resentencing for people with prior marijuana convictions.

Members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees approved alternate versions of the opposite chamber’s reform bill on Monday, setting the stage for bicameral negotiations as the measures move through the legislative process.

Legislation introduced in both chambers would create a process to consider changing the sentences under which people incarcerated or on community custody for certain felonies involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana could receive an automatic trial.

Separately last month, the Virginia House patients passed a bill to allow the use of medical marijuana in hospitals. It would require health care facilities to implement policies “to address the situation in which an eligible patient is authorized to use medical cannabis.”

The Senate passed various pieces of legislation use of medical cannabis in healthcare facilities last month

—
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.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Meanwhile, the Virginia House passed the bill earlier this month Protecting the rights of parents who use marijuana by complying with state laws.

Del. According to the proposal by Nadarius Clark (D), a parent or guardian’s own use of cannabis “shall not serve as a basis for a finding of abuse or neglect of a child unless other facts establish that its possession or consumption causes or produces physical or mental injury to the child.”

“A person’s legal possession or consumption of substances permitted (under state marijuana law) shall not serve as a basis for limiting custody or visitation unless other facts establish that such possession or consumption is not in the best interest of the child,” reads the text of HB 942.

Separately, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has published a new defining workplace protections for cannabis users.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

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Swiss company launches nationwide price comparison tool for cannabis

Published

1 day ago

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March 2, 2026

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Evidena Care AG is one of the leading Swiss telemedicine platforms and specialized medical practices for medical cannabis. The company currently supports more than 2,000 patients across the country. Under the direction of Dr. Nicolai Berardi and two other specialist doctors, Evidena Care has focused on evidence-based, responsible and patient-centered treatment for the past two years.

Now, Evidena Care is launching a nationwide online comparison portal for medical cannabis products. The platform is designed for patients who already have a valid medical prescription and want a clear and reliable view of the market. For the first time in Switzerland, patients can directly compare products and prices from the country’s largest pharmacies in one place.

Medical cannabis plays an essential role in the treatment plans of many patients. At the same time, prices can vary significantly between pharmacies, even when the products contain the same levels of active ingredients. As these costs are often not covered by health insurance, or only partially covered, many patients have a heavy financial burden. The new portal addresses this issue by bringing transparency to a market that until now has been difficult to navigate.

The platform provides an overview of available products and dosages, clearly lists the active ingredient content, such as THC and CBD levels, and displays the current prices of leading Swiss pharmacies. Patients can directly compare options and make informed decisions that help optimize their therapy costs, without compromising medical guidance.

“Patients should not be victims of non-transparent pricing structures,” says Dr. Nicolai Berardi, CEO of Evidena Care AG. “We are creating transparency with our comparison portal, strengthening the self-responsibility of those affected and promoting fair competition in the interests of patients.”

The portal is only for people with a valid prescription. It serves as a true information tool and supports cost optimization in an existing therapy supervised by a physician.

For more information:
Evidena Care AG
Email: (email protected)
https://evidena.care/










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