Implementation of the Retail Cannabis Marketplace in Virginia

The 2026 General Assembly session cultivated a new legal retail marijuana marketplace in one of the unlikeliest of ways: the annual appropriation act. Ongoing legislative and regulatory developments surrounding the pending retail marijuana market are creating new considerations for local governments. As the Commonwealth's regulatory framework takes shape, localities must understand not only what authority they have, but also what responsibilities they may be required to fulfill. From taxation and zoning to licensing and enforcement, the choices made today can have significant implications for future implementation.

In this September session of Practical Law for Civic Leaders, Sands Anderson attorneys Max Hlavin, Elizabeth Chupik, and Rebecca Powers will be joined by Donnie Autry, Assistant County Attorney for Arlington County, for a practical discussion of the local implications of marijuana policy in Virginia and what these developments may mean for planning, governance, and compliance.