Virginia Cannabis Is Heating Up – 3 Joint Commission Updates
Major Developments Across Virginia’s Adult-Use Cannabis Market
On December 2, 2025, the Virginia joint commission that will oversee the development of the commonwealth’s new retail cannabis market convened to offer updates and insight into the long-delayed and highly-anticipated program rollout. After multiple vetoes of legislation by Governor Glenn Youngkin, newly-elected Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has vowed to support Virginia’s adult-use cannabis market.
While a cannabis bill hasn’t been formally written or introduced in Virginia yet, this joint commission meeting offered valuable insight. Here are the top three updates we’ve seen for Virginia’s developing cannabis market.
1) Social Equity Licenses Are Now Impact Licenses
Social equity in the cannabis industry has seen its share of ups and downs. Now Virginia has announced they are entirely scrapping their previously planned social equity licenses. Kind of.
Vertically Integrated Name Change
Vertically integrated social equity licenses are getting a name change and are being replaced with the newly titled, “Impact Licenses.” To qualify, Virginia applicants must meet four out of seven criteria such as having a past cannabis related conviction, living in a historically disadvantaged area, or being a recognized distressed farmer.
2) No Dry Counties – Municipalities Can’t Opt-Out
There will be no opt-out options for municipalities and local governments. While some states can see as high as 70% of their counties opt-out of allowing adult-use cannabis sales, this won’t be the case in Virginia. There will be no “dry counties” in the Commonwealth and no municipality can restrict a retail dispensary, for instance, from seeking to open within their boundaries. However, distance rules are now set to draw derision.
3) Expanded Dispensary Distance Requirements
Previously passed legislation had detailed distance requirements between Virginia retail cannabis dispensaries as being 1,000 feet. However, changes have now been made that would extend this to one mile between dispensaries. Upon the announcement of this in, there was audible gasps and such a visceral reaction from public attendees at the Commission meeting that Chair Paul Krizek had to gavel for order. Immediately, there was discussion amongst fellow Commission members about amending this or reducing this for more densely populated areas.
Far and away the most controversial change and update, we will see if in the actual bill language this update remains because right now, it seems most are not a fan of this.
Start Planning Around These Developments Now
We still have a ways to go in Virginia, but things are heating up fast and the Commonwealth is eyeing a July 1st license application window opening. Now is the ideal time to start laying the foundations for your business to submit qualifying and winning application materials. From developing business plans, to outlining financial models, to answering your toughest questions in on-on-one calls, team has the decades of national and East Coast cannabis consulting experience to help you plan ahead for a license win.
Be sure to reach out to Canna Advisors to see how we can assist you with your dream of a Virginia cannabis business.