Licensing
Creates the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (the Authority). The Authority would consist of the Virginia Cannabis Board of Directors (the Board), the Chief Executive Officer, and its agents and employees.
The Board would have the power to, among other things, issue licenses for marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, testing, wholesale sales, and retail sales.
The Authority would be able to start accepting license applications on July 1, 2023 and it would be required to give preference to social equity applicants, as determined by Board regulations. Any applicant issued a license by the Authority after July 1, 2023 would be authorized to operate,
except no marijuana store licensee may sell retail marijuana or retail marijuana products to a consumer prior to January 1, 2024.
"There have been a few bumps, but I m hopeful that we ll have a polished bill we can agree upon in the next few weeks," Virginia Senate Adam Ebbin said Friday.