Virginia’s Joint Commission on Cannabis Oversight has voted to recommend that the brand new state Cannabis Control Authority should regulate the adult use marijuana program, and to suggest moving the timeline for legal recreational sales up to January, 2023. It’s now up to the Virginia Senate and House to adopt the recommendation in order to make legal recreational marijuana sales happen before 2024.
Considering the Virginia Legislature won’t be reconvening until after the new Republican majority takes office, it’s likely that there will be some pushback to launching the sale of recreational marijuana a year earlier than originally mandated. However, some Republicans have acknowledged that the illegal market will only grow while possession of marijuana is legal, but sale is not.
In the meantime, residents of Virginia who want to legally purchase marijuana products in the state can do so when they get a Virginia medical marijuana card. Fortunately, the process is fairly straightforward and simple, and most adults in the state qualify considering the long list of conditions that have been approved.
When Will Recreational Marijuana be Sold Legally in Virginia?
The timeline for legal recreational marijuana sales in Virginia is still unclear. Back in April, 2021, Governor Northam signed the adult-use legalization bill that would implement criminal justice reforms, allow home cultivation and possession, and legalize the sale of adult-use marijuana products at state licensed dispensaries by 2024.
However, the only parts of the bill that didn’t need to be reaffirmed in 2022, were the cultivation and possession laws. Those laws took effect on July 1st this year, and they will not be revoked without a significant amount of effort and cooperation among lawmakers.
The criminal justice reforms and the timeline (or even reality) of recreational marijuana sales do need to be reaffirmed, and it is unclear what the new Republican leadership has in mind for the future of adult-use marijuana sales in Virginia.
The Joint Commission on Cannabis Oversight has found its way to recommending that recreational sales begin in 2023 through existing medical marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries; but there is no way of knowing if the 2022 Virginia Republican leadership will adopt the recommendation or not.
There are some logistical and social issues with this suggestion that do not appear to have been outlined, including offering equal opportunities for industry participation and mitigating the potential shortage of product supply with a rushed launch of legal sales.
Despite an Unclear Timeline for Adult-Use Marijuana Sales in Virginia, Residents Can Buy Marijuana Now With a Medical Card
The only thing that’s clear for the future of marijuana in Virginia is that the medical marijuana program will continue to grow. The inventory at Virginia dispensaries continues to expand, and patients are enjoying legal access to marijuana flower, vapes, concentrates, tinctures and more right now.
What’s more, most medical marijuana patients in Virginia live within the cannabis delivery zone for at least one dispensary. Once you have your marijuana card, you can order your cannabis products online and have them delivered right to your door!
Don’t Wait for the Relief You Deserve Today!
You don’t need to wait to get access to high quality, purity verified marijuana products. Getting a marijuana card is easy, and our patient support representatives and marijuana doctors are here to walk you through the process every step of the way.
Give Virginia Marijuana Card a call at (888) 633-5808, or simply schedule a medical marijuana evaluation appointment online today!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.