Virginia cannabis is coming—here’s what you need to know

Plan accoridngly, things are going to be moving fast

At the start of January 2026, there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to cannabis in the Commonwealth of Virginia. There is already a Joint Commission to Oversee the Transition of the Commonwealth into a Cannabis Retail Market which had its first meeting in December and unveiled tentative plans for adult-use cannabis.

There are still a lot of unknowns and a formal bill, as of this writing, has not been introduced to the legislature. What we do know is adult-use sales are anticipated to begin as soon as this year, and with that competitive licenses and licensing periods before that.

Here is what you can do now to best prepare and seize this opportunity.

• Begin financial modeling to ensure that your business prospects can remain profitable into the future

• Begin business planning, as a business plan is likely a requirement for investment opportunities and Commonwealth licensing processes

• Identify a reliable consultant to guide you through the complex and rapidly moving regulatory process, ensuring you don’t miss out

• Secure a property, which is the single biggest hurdle for prospective cannabis businesses and often sets apart qualified applicants from sub-part applicants

Reach out to Square Deal today to get things rolling for your prospective cannabis business in Virginia!