Virginia Cannabis Laws (2025)
Last updated: October 14, 2025
Legal notice: This page is informational only and not legal advice. Laws change. Always verify on the official Virginia sources linked here and follow the strictest rule that applies to you. See our Legal Disclaimer & No-Warranty and Terms of Use.
Snapshot
- Adult possession: Legal up to 1 ounce for adults 21+ (see Va. Code § 4.1-1100).
- Home cultivation: Legal up to 4 plants per household (not per person), with tagging and visibility safeguards (Va. Code § 4.1-1101).
- Retail sales: Not launched as of Oct 2025; 2025 retail-market bills (HB 2485 / SB 970) were vetoed—monitor the CCA for updates.
- Medical program: Active; see the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority medical pages.
- Driving: Illegal to use cannabis in a vehicle or drive under the influence (Va. Code § 4.1-1107 + DUI statutes).
What’s Legal for Adults (21+)
Possession (public places)
Virginia law allows adults 21+ to possess up to one ounce of marijuana or an equivalent amount of marijuana product in public. Over that amount triggers civil/criminal penalties set out in statute.
Official text: Va. Code § 4.1-1100 (see Official Links below). :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Home Cultivation
Adults 21+ may cultivate up to four (4) plants per household at their main residence. Plants must not be visible from a public way and must be tagged (name + ID number + “for personal use”). Exceeding plant limits carries penalties that escalate from civil to felony tiers.
Official text: Va. Code § 4.1-1101; CCA Home Cultivation Guidance. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Note: Home-grown plants/products are for personal use; manufacturing concentrates at home is restricted—review the statute and CCA guidance.
What’s Not Legal (Selected)
- Retail adult-use sales: Not active as of Oct 2025 (2025 bills to stand up a retail market were vetoed). Monitor CCA and LIS for any change. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Use in vehicles: It is unlawful to use/consume marijuana while driving or as a passenger in a moving vehicle. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Driving under the influence (DUI/DUID): Illegal; enforcement is impairment-based (no per-se THC limit). See CCA’s safe-driving materials. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Medical Cannabis in Virginia
Virginia’s medical program allows qualified patients to access cannabis for medical use. See patient eligibility, certification, and registration details on the CCA Medical Cannabis pages, including patient resources and practitioner listings/portals.
Start here: CCA Medical Program Overview and Patient resources. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Penalties & Under-21 Rules (High-Level)
- Under 21: possession/attempted possession illegal.
- Possession above set amounts and certain conduct (e.g., large quantities) may be misdemeanors or felonies—see LIS/Code sections.
Overview: CCA “Laws” page outlines thresholds and felony tiers. Verify on the Code for specifics. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Official Links (Verify Here)
- Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) – Home: https://cca.virginia.gov/
- CCA – Laws Overview: https://cca.virginia.gov/laws
- CCA – Medical Cannabis: https://cca.virginia.gov/medicalcannabis
- CCA – Safe Driving: https://cca.virginia.gov/resources/safedriving
- Code of Virginia – Possession (Va. Code § 4.1-1100): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title4.1/chapter11/section4.1-1100/
- Code of Virginia – Home Cultivation (Va. Code § 4.1-1101): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title4.1/chapter11/section4.1-1101/
- Code of Virginia – Vehicle Use (Va. Code § 4.1-1107): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title4.1/chapter11/section4.1-1107/
- LIS – 2025 Retail-Market Bills (status): HB 2485 / SB 970
Stay Current
- See our site-wide Research Updates for major legal/policy changes.
- For safety and planning, read Responsible Use Guide.
- For how we verify and publish, see Information You Can Trust, Editorial Standards, and How We Fact-Check.