Virginia leaders ready for new tax, reach agreement on retail cannabis sales

(The Center Square) – Virginia leaders are ready to add another tax, announcing agreement Tuesday to create a legal retail cannabis market with sales set to begin July 1, 2027.

The agreement is expected to be included in the state’s still-unfinished two-year budget, which lawmakers must approve before the June 30 deadline.

Virginia legalized adult possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana and home cultivation of up to four plants in 2021 but never established a retail market.

Earlier this year, the General Assembly passed legislation that would have launched regulated adult-use sales on Jan. 1. Gov. Abigail Spanberger sought changes including a six-month delay, additional enforcement provisions and other revisions to the legislation. After lawmakers declined to adopt those amendments during the reconvened session, the governor vetoed the bills in May.

The compromise follows weeks of negotiations between Spanberger and the legislation’s chief patrons, Sen...