We have the VA draft regulations!

September 10, 2026

It is about time! At yesterday’s Cannabis Control Authority Board of Directors meeting, we finally made substantial progress towards formally launching the adult-use cannabis program in the Commonwealth. Draft regulations were unveiled which offer substantial details about the steps prospective applicants will need to take to get a license.

Here is what we know and here is what you can do now to prepare.

Timeline Updates

With these draft regulations, we now have far clearer details on when and how things will progress for the opening of the first cannabis business application round.

• September—Initial draft regulations released

• October-November/ December—Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council review of certain regulations

• December—Board approve final regulations

• January—Regulations submitted for publication

• February—Regulations become effective

This is a fast but realistic timeline, given the bumps in the road we’ve experienced leading up to this moment. But it does mean, now is the time to get going as these months will go by quickly.

Application Requirements and Qualifications

There are ample details available within these 82 pages of regulations, but also some questions which remain when it comes to exact application requirements and what all to expect.  Here is what we know though. Applicants will need to provide the following:

• Any history of disciplinary action imposed by a state or federal regulatory agency;  

• The applicant’s ability to maintain adequate control against the diversion, theft, and loss of the marijuana, including the seeds, any parts, or extracts of the marijuana plants or the marijuana products;  

• The applicant’s ability to maintain the knowledge, understanding, judgment, procedures, security controls, and ethics to ensure optimal safety and accuracy in the dispensing and sale of marijuana products; and  

• The extent to which the applicant or any of the applicant’s owners have a financial interest in another license, permit, registrant, or applicant. 

More details are expected to come forward on the makeup of the application itself, but this is a strong starting point. There are also details that now show that an applicant will receive preliminary approval first and have 18-months to submit additional materials (such as details related to a property) in order to receive final licensure. This is a process that we most recently saw in Minnesota.

What to do now

Time is of the essence. Things will be moving quickly and this is the opportune time to change regulations as well, since these are draft regulations and can still be modified. If you have questions, comments, or points of clarification within these regulations, you can have a direct impact on these prior to the release of final regulations.

You can submit comments to the CCA through their online form or prepare public comments for their next Board of Directors meeting on October 21.

Most importantly, you can start preparing for application submission. Only qualifying applicants will be awarded a license. This means, that a pure lottery will not be the ultimate determinate of issuances of licenses. That means, you want to submit the best quality materials you can, and that takes time.

Reach out to Square Deal today in order to get started.