Verify · Virginia
Virginia cannabis rules: what to know and how to check
In Virginia, adults 21 and older may have up to 2 ounces of cannabis in public and grow up to 4 plants per household. But there are no legal adult-use stores yet. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) says retail sales begin July 1, 2027. Until then, selling cannabis to adults is illegal, and that includes pop-up shops.
Today, the only legal stores are medical cannabis dispensaries. To buy there, you need a written certification from a qualified practitioner. Check the dispensary on the CCA’s list before you go.
Checked against the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) and the Code of Virginia on . Next review: .
CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products or retailers.
Official source
Virginia’s cannabis regulator: Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA)
- Check a business license Official license list
- See official recalls No public recall list found
- File a complaint Report an unlicensed business or a problem
- Regulator website Laws, rules and news
These links go to the regulator’s own website. CHSA does not copy or host license records, so you always see the official, current version.
What’s different in Virginia
In Virginia, adults 21 and older may have, grow and share small amounts of cannabis. But as of October 2026 there are no legal adult-use stores. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) says non-medical sales are illegal for now. That includes pop-up shops and "gifting" deals tied to a sale.
That is set to change. A 2026 law creates a licensed retail market. The CCA says retail sales begin July 1, 2027. It is writing the rules now and plans to open the first license applications by February 1, 2027. Until a store has a CCA retail license, buying from it is not legal.
Today, the only legal places to buy are medical cannabis dispensaries. They are run by five licensed pharmaceutical processors, one in each health service area, and a pharmacist oversees dispensing. To buy, you need a written certification from a qualified practitioner, a government ID and Virginia residency.
Using cannabis in any public place is against the law. So is using it while driving or riding in a car, or keeping open cannabis where the driver or passengers can reach it. Landlords can ban growing or using cannabis in rentals.
Hemp products follow separate rules. Since August 15, 2026, a hemp product sold in Virginia may not have more than 2 mg of total THC per package. Stores selling hemp edibles or vapes must register with the CCA.
Licensed does not mean risk-free. Medical products are lab-tested before sale, but CHSA did not find a public recall list on the CCA's website.
Virginia rules at a glance
These are the main state rules. Adult-use stores are not open yet, so the testing, label and package rules below cover medical cannabis. Numbers in brackets link to the law or the regulator.
| Topic | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21 and older for adult possession, home grow and sharing. People under 21 may not possess or use cannabis. Medical patients must be 18 or older, or have a parent's or guardian's consent. | Source [1] Va. Code § 4.1-1100(A); § 4.1-1105.1(A); CCA Patients & Caregivers page, Step 1 |
| How much you can have | Adults 21 and older may carry up to 2 ounces in public. Over 2 ounces up to 4 ounces is a civil fine of up to $25. Over 4 ounces is a crime. The public limits do not apply inside your own home. Adults may share up to 1 ounce with another adult if no money or goods change hands. | Source [2] Va. Code § 4.1-1100(A)–(C); § 4.1-1101.1(B) |
| Growing at home | Adults 21 and older may grow up to 4 plants at their main home, with no more than 4 per household no matter how many adults live there. Plants must not be visible from a public way, must be kept away from people under 21, and each plant needs a tag with your name, ID number and a note that it is for personal use. | Source [3] Va. Code § 4.1-1101(A), (B) |
| Delivery | No adult-use sales or delivery until retail sales begin on July 1, 2027. Medical dispensaries may deliver to a patient, or the patient's registered agent, parent or guardian, at a home or business, with a photo ID check. | Source [4] Va. Code § 4.1-1603(A), (E); CCA Retail Marijuana Market timeline |
| Required lab tests | Every batch of medical cannabis is tested by an independent lab before it is sold. Tests cover microbes, mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents (oils) and potency. Flower is also tested for moisture and water activity. Labs must be independent of the cannabis industry. | Source [5] 3VAC10-60-20(A)–(C); Va. Code § 4.1-1602(D) |
| Labels | Every medical cannabis container shows the state's universal symbol. Labels list the processor, the registered product name, child and safety warnings, a serial number that links to the batch, testing and expiration dates, THC and CBD amounts, and a pass rating from lab tests. The pharmacy label adds your name and the dispensary's contact details. | Source [6] 3VAC10-70-20(A), (B)(3); 3VAC10-70-45(A) |
| Packaging | Medical cannabis packages must be child-resistant, tamper-resistant and fully opaque, with limited exceptions. They may not look like candy, snacks, baked goods or drinks, or be designed to appeal to people under 21. | Source [7] 3VAC10-70-55(A), (B) |
| Edible THC limits | Medical only for now. Each dispensed dose may have no more than 10 mg of total THC, except where state law allows more. A dispensary may give a patient no more than a 90-day supply in any 90 days, and no more than 4 ounces of flower (botanical cannabis) for each 30 days. | Source [8] Va. Code § 4.1-1602(C)(ix); § 4.1-1603(A) |
| Poison control | Virginia Poison Center and Blue Ridge Poison Center (serve Virginia): 1-800-222-1222 . Free, confidential, 24/7. Call 911 if someone has trouble breathing or won’t wake up. | www.vdh.virginia.gov |
Virginia recalls
We did not find a public recall list on the CCA’s website. State rules say each medical cannabis label must carry a serial number that links the product to its batch, so warnings or recalls can be traced. 6 CHSA does not monitor Virginia recalls yet. Keep the package. If you think a product made you sick, call Poison Help, then tell the CCA.
How Virginia compares
Compare Virginia with the other states CHSA covers.
Sources
- Va. Code § 4.1-1105.1: Possession of marijuana unlawful in certain cases (under 21)
- Va. Code § 4.1-1100: Possession of marijuana by persons 21 or older lawful; penalties
- Va. Code § 4.1-1101: Home cultivation of marijuana for personal use; penalties
- Va. Code § 4.1-1603: Dispensing cannabis products; report
- 3VAC10-60-20: Laboratory requirements (medical cannabis testing)
- 3VAC10-70-20: Labeling of cannabis products
- 3VAC10-70-55: Medical cannabis packaging requirements
- Va. Code § 4.1-1602: Permit to operate pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility
- Virginia Cannabis Control Authority home page
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Laws & Regulations: what's legal and what's illegal
- Retail Marijuana Market
- Virginia's New Marijuana and Hemp Laws: What You Need to Know
- Va. Code § 4.1-1101.1: Adult sharing of marijuana
- Va. Code § 4.1-1108: Consuming marijuana, or offering to another, in public place; penalty
- Dispensary Locations
- Pharmaceutical Processors
- Patients & Caregivers
- Va. Code § 4.1-1601: Certification for use of cannabis for treatment
- 3VAC10-70-45: Dispensing label requirements
- Hemp Information
- Va. Code Title 3.2, Ch. 41.1, Art. 4: Regulated hemp products (§§ 3.2-4122 to 3.2-4126)
- Report a Tip
- 2026 National Poison Prevention Week
CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products or retailers.