When Can You Buy Legal Weed in Virginia? The Complete 2026 Retail Guide

Great news for Virginians waiting for a legal place to buy: The path to a regulated retail market just took a significant step forward.

On February 17, 2026, the Virginia House of Delegates officially passed HB642, a bill designed to finally crack open the doors for adult-use dispensaries in the Commonwealth.

For our readers keeping track of state-by-state legality, here is what this development means for access in Virginia.

The Timeline: When Can You Buy?

The most critical question for consumers is always, "When do dispensaries open?"

According to the text of HB642, the timeline is becoming clearer. The bill explicitly states that no retail sales may occur prior to November 1, 2026. While this means a few more months of waiting, it creates a definitive target date for the launch of the legal market.

Behind the Scenes: How It Happened

For those interested in how legalization actually gets done, the journey of HB642 offers some fascinating clues about what Virginia prioritizes.

• Money Talks: The bill started in the "General Laws" committee, which focuses on rules and regulations. However, right before the final vote, the House swapped out that version for one crafted by the Appropriations committee. This suggests that the financial side of legalization—taxes and revenue—was the deciding factor in getting this passed.

• The "Fast Track": Government often moves slowly, but this bill moved with serious speed. It went from being introduced on January 13 to passing the House on February 17—a sprint of just 35 days. This indicates that getting a market open is a high priority for the state legislature this session.

Heating Up: While the bill passed comfortably (65-32), it wasn't without debate. Early committee votes were unanimous, but as the bill moved to the full House floor, opposition grew. This is a common pattern: everyone agrees on the idea, but the specific details (like tax rates or licensing rules) often cause friction as the final vote approaches.

What's in the Bill?

Introduced by Chief Patron Paul E. Krizek, HB642 establishes the necessary framework to create a retail marijuana market.

Rather than a "wild west" approach, the market will be strictly administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. This body will oversee the regulations that ensure safe consumption and proper licensing for dispensaries.

What's Next?

Now that HB642 has passed the House, it moves to the next stage of the legislative process. We will continue to monitor the bill's progress through the Senate and to the Governor's desk.

Stay tuned with us for updates on licensed dispensary locations as we approach that November 2026 target date.