Virginia finally gets legal weed stores, starting July 1, 2027
Gov. Abigail Spanberger and lawmakers folded retail cannabis sales into the state budget: up to 350 stores, a 6% state tax and an optional local tax on top.
Virginia legalized possession and home grow back in 2021, then spent five years without a single legal store. That ends in 2027. In mid-June, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) and legislative leaders struck a deal to put retail sales into the state budget, weeks after she vetoed a stand-alone sales bill.
Lawmakers approved the budget language in a special session, and it became law at the end of June. Adults 21 and up can start buying at licensed shops on July 1, 2027. The framework allows up to 350 retailers.
The state tax starts at 6% and can climb to 8% in 2029, and localities can add their own tax of 1% to 3.5%. Revenue is earmarked for early childhood education, substance abuse treatment and public health. The trade-off: the public possession limit rises to 2 ounces, but the fine for public use jumps to $250, a provision NORML flagged as a concern.
Why it matters: Virginia was the only adult-use state with no legal market, so this closes a gap that pushed buyers to the illicit market for years.
