Virginia moves to launch legal cannabis marketplace after years of delay

By: Markus Schmidt

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: March 18, 2026

Words: 1,591

Last Updated: 3 days, 3 hours ago

Body Text Preview

Five years after Virginia legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana but failed to create a way for people to legally buy it, state lawmakers last week approved legislation establishing a regulated retail market for adult-use cannabis, potentially ending years of uncertainty over how cannabis could be legally bought and sold in the state.

Late Friday, the Senate approved the conference committee compromise on House Bill 642 by a 21–18 party-line vote. The House …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us