How to use this tracker:
This page will assist you in tracking, understanding, and taking action on cannabis-related bills moving through the 2025 Virginia General Assembly.
Click the bill title for the complete text and additional information on LIS.
The date of last action on the bill follows the summary. We usually update this at night and try to include when a bill is docketed and the committee hearing information.
Questions? Contact Virginia NORML at [email protected] or join us Fridays at 4PM (session permitting) for Live with NORML, streaming on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Bills Awaiting Action by the Governor:
HB 2485 Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
SB 970 Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
HB 2613 Child abuse and neglect; custody and visitation; possession or consumption of authorized substances.
HB 2723 Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records, repeals Sealing Fee Fund.
SB 1466 Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records, repeals Sealing Fee Fund.
HB 2555 Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses.
Key Dates
Monday, March 24 Last day for governor's action
Wednesday, April 2 Reconvened day ("veto session")
Tuesday, July 1 New laws take effect
What the motions on bills mean:
Lay the bill on the table Suspends debate of the bill. It can be recalled from the table later, but this rarely happens.
Pass the bill by indefinitely Ends debate of the bill. The bill has been killed and is dead for the session.
Report the bill Sends the bill to the House or Senate for a floor vote.
Refer or Rerefer Sends the bill to a Committee or Subcommittee.
Final outcomes for bills:
| 8 | SUCCEEDED Bill passed both chambers by vote and has been sent to the Governor for action | |
| SIGNED Bill has been signed by the Governor and will become law | ||
| 9 | CROSSED OVER Bill has succeed in its chamber of origin and is now before the other chamber | |
| 0 | INCORPORATED Bill was incorporated into other similar and preferential bill | |
| 0 | CONTINUED Bill will be taken up in the same Committee in the following year, but is done for this session | |
| 4 | DEFEATED Bill was defeated by vote and will not pass this session | |
| 0 | FAILED TO PASS Bill was not heard by the House or Senate or otherwise failed to advance | |
| 3 | LEFT IN COMMITTEE Bill was not heard by the Committee or otherwise failed to advance | |
| VETOED Governor has vetoed the bill | ||
| 0 | IN CONFERENCE Bill is in a committee of Senate and House members to reconcile a final version for approval | |
| AMENDMENTS Governor has proposed amendments to be considered by the General Assembly | ||
| 0 | WITHDRAWN/STRICKEN Bill patron withdrew the bill | |
| 1 | LETTER Bill tabled with the intent to send a letter to the Secretariat requesting the bill's action |
Adult-Use
SUCCEEDED: HB 2485 Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
Chief patron: Del Paul Krizek (D)
Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026.
2/12/2025 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 18-N)
SUCCEEDED: SB 970 Cannabis control; retail market; penalties.
Chief patron: Sen Aaron Rouse (D)
Cannabis control; retail market; penalties. Establishes a framework for the creation of a retail marijuana market in the Commonwealth, to be administered by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. The bill allows the Authority to begin issuing all marijuana licenses on September 1, 2025, but provides that no retail sales may occur prior to May 1, 2026.
2/12/2025 House: Passed House (53-Y 44-N 0-A)
SUCCEEDED: HJ 497 Retail cannabis market; joint commission established to oversee transition of the Commonwealth.
Chief patron: Del Paul Krizek (D)
Joint commission to oversee transition of the Commonwealth into a retail cannabis market established; report. Establishes a joint commission to oversee the transition of the Commonwealth into a retail cannabis market. The joint commission shall expire on July 1, 2028.
2/20/2025 House: Senate Amendment agreed to by House (50-Y 45-N)
This resolution reestablishes the Cannabis Oversight Commission, which sunsetted in 2024. Resolutions require only approval by both chambers and do not go to the Governor.
DEFEATED: SB 1054 Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; draft regulations governing cannabis; report.
Chief patron: Sen Adam Ebbin (D)
Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; draft regulations governing cannabis; report. Directs the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to draft regulations governing the indoor cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, and delivery of marijuana to adults age 21 or older in the Commonwealth, which shall (i) include appropriate application and license fees; (ii) include transaction limits; and (iii) model, to the greatest extent practicable, the regulations promulgated by the Authority governing the Medical Cannabis Program.
The bill requires the Authority to report such draft regulations to the General Assembly by November 15, 2025, and indicate the date by which it would be able to implement and enforce such regulations, issue licenses, provide adequate enforcement, and implement a transitional sales program for pharmaceutical processors. The bill specifies that any regulations drafted by the Authority pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall not become effective until such regulations are approved by an act of the General Assembly.
1/31/2025 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N)
Criminalization
LEFT IN COMMITTEE: HB 2317 Possession of marijuana, marijuana products, retail tobacco products, and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty.
Chief patron: Del Will Davis (R)
Possession of marijuana, marijuana products, retail tobacco products, and hemp products intended for smoking by a person younger than 21 years of age prohibited; penalty. Provides that no person younger than 21 years of age shall consume or possess, or attempt to consume or possess, any marijuana, marijuana products, retail tobacco products, or hemp products intended for smoking, as such terms are defined in relevant law, and a violation of such prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with certain exceptions. The bill also allows any such person charged with his first offense of underaged possession of retail tobacco products or hemp products intended for smoking to have the proceedings deferred, to be placed on probation by the court, and to have the charges dismissed by the court without an adjudication of guilty upon such person's successful completion of probation.
2/4/2025 House: Left in Courts of Justice
Virginia NORML successfully defeated this bill.
DEFEATED: SB 947 Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence.
Chief patron: Sen Bill DeSteph (R)
Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.
1/27/2025 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 6-N)
Virginia NORML successfully defeated this bill.
Employment
DEFEATED: HB 2510 Safety and Health Codes Board; THC impairment standard for certain work sites.
Chief patron: Del Kim Taylor (R)
Safety and Health Codes Board; THC impairment standard for certain work sites. Directs the Safety and Health Codes Board to promulgate regulations to establish a THC impairment standard and testing protocol to be used exclusively on manufacturing and utility work sites and to commence the rulemaking process no later than October 1, 2025.
1/30/2025 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (3-Y 2-N)
Virginia NORML successfully defeated this bill.
DEFEATED: SB 912 Safety and Health Codes Board; THC impairment standard for certain work sites.
Chief patron: Sen Bill Stanley (R)
Safety and Health Codes Board; THC impairment standard for certain work sites. Directs the Safety and Health Codes Board to promulgate regulations to establish a THC impairment standard and testing protocol to be used exclusively on manufacturing and utility work sites and to commence the rulemaking process no later than October 1, 2025.
1/13/2025 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)
Virginia NORML successfully defeated this bill.
Expungement
SUCCEEDED: HB 2723 Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records, repeals Sealing Fee Fund.
Chief patron: Del Charniele Herring (D)
Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records. Amends numerous statutes related to the expungement and sealing of criminal records that are scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2025. In addition, the bill requires (i) the Department of State Police to develop a secure portal for the purpose of allowing government agencies to determine whether a record has been sealed prior to responding to a request pursuant to current law by October 1, 2026; (ii) the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission to (a) educate and provide support to public defenders and certified court-appointed counsel on expungement and sealing, (b) conduct trainings on expungement and sealing across the Commonwealth, (c) develop a library of resources on expungement and sealing for use by public defenders and court-appointed counsel, and (d) post information regarding expungement and sealing for use by the public on its website; and (iii) the Department of State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and clerk of any circuit court to provide data and information on sealing upon request of the Virginia State Crime Commission for purposes of monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of the sealing processes.
The bill repeals the Sealing Fee Fund and directs any money in such Fund to be reverted to the general fund. The bill contains a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, for the provisions related to the sealing of former possession of marijuana offenses without entry of a court order and the sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing and such petitions. Lastly, the bill delays the repeal of the relevant law related to marijuana possession, limits on dissemination of criminal history record information, and prohibited practices by employers, educational institutions, and state and local governments until July 1, 2026. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.
2/22/2025 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N)
SUCCEEDED: SB 1466 Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records, repeals Sealing Fee Fund.
Chief patron: Sen Scott Surovell (D)
Criminal records; expungement and sealing of records. Amends numerous statutes related to the expungement and sealing of criminal records that are scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2025. In addition, the bill requires (i) the Department of State Police to develop a secure portal for the purpose of allowing government agencies to determine whether a record has been sealed prior to responding to a request pursuant to current law by October 1, 2026; (ii) the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission to (a) educate and provide support to public defenders and certified court-appointed counsel on expungement and sealing, (b) conduct trainings on expungement and sealing across the Commonwealth, (c) develop a library of resources on expungement and sealing for use by public defenders and court-appointed counsel, and (d) post information regarding expungement and sealing for use by the public on its website; and (iii) the Department of State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia, and clerk of any circuit court to provide data and information on sealing upon request of the Virginia State Crime Commission for purposes of monitoring and evaluating the implementation and impact of the sealing processes.
The bill repeals the Sealing Fee Fund and directs any money in such Fund to be reverted to the general fund. The bill contains a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, for the provisions related to the sealing of former possession of marijuana offenses without entry of a court order and the sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing and such petitions. Lastly, the bill delays the repeal of the relevant law related to marijuana possession, limits on dissemination of criminal history record information, and prohibited practices by employers, educational institutions, and state and local governments until July 1, 2026. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia State Crime Commission.
2/22/2025 Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (28-Y 11-N)
Medical
SUCCEEDED: HB 1989 Medical cannabis program; product labels; delivery.
Chief patron: Del Alex Askew (D)
Medical cannabis program; product labels; delivery. Changes the requirements for what is included on medical cannabis product labels affixed by pharmaceutical processors to include (i) the total milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product, both defined in the bill; (ii) the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving of the edible cannabis product or topical cannabis product; and (iii) the total percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the inhalable cannabis product, defined in the bill. Under current law, the product label of any medical cannabis product is required to include the total percentage and milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the product and the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving.
The bill also allows a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility to dispense or deliver cannabis products in person to a patient or such patient's registered agent, parent, or legal guardian at any residence or business at which such patient or such patient's registered agent, parent, or legal guardian is lawfully permitted to receive deliveries. However, the bill prohibits dispensing or delivering cannabis products to any public gathering places.
2/20/2025 House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (84-Y 14-N 0-A)
Parental Rights
SUCCEEDED: HB 2613 Child abuse and neglect; custody and visitation; possession or consumption of authorized substances.
Chief patron: Del Nadarius Clark (D)
Child abuse and neglect; custody and visitation; possession or consumption of authorized substances. Provides that a child shall not be considered an abused or neglected child, and no person shall be denied custody or visitation of a child, based only on the fact that the child's parent or other person responsible for his care, or the person petitioning for custody or visitation of the child, possessed or consumed legally authorized substances. The bill directs the Board of Social Services to amend its regulations, guidance documents, and other instructional materials to ensure that such regulations, documents, and materials comply with, and that investigations and family assessments are conducted by local departments of social services in accordance with, the provisions of the bill.
2/18/2025 Senate: Passed Senate (26-Y 14-N)
Sentencing
LEFT IN COMMITTEE: HB 2176 Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses, sunset.
Chief patron: Del Nadarius Clark (D)
Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses. Creates a process by which persons convicted of certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling, giving, distribution, transportation, or delivery of marijuana committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2025, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The provisions of this bill sunset on July 1, 2028.
2/4/2025 House: Left in Courts of Justice
SUCCEEDED: HB 2555 Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses.
Chief patron: Del Rozia Henson (D)
Modification of sentence for marijuana-related offenses. Creates a process by which persons convicted of certain felony offenses involving the possession, manufacture, selling, giving, distribution, transportation, or delivery of marijuana committed prior to July 1, 2021, who remain incarcerated or on community supervision on July 1, 2025, may receive an automatic hearing to consider modification of such person's sentence. The provisions of this bill sunset on July 1, 2028.
2/14/2025 Senate: Passed Senate (21-Y 15-N)
Workgroups, Studies, & Resolutions
LEFT IN COMMITTEE: HB 2366 Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and Human Resources; combat the sale of illicit cannabis products; work group; report.
Chief patron: Del Carrie Coyner (R)
Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and Human Resources; combat the sale of illicit cannabis products; work group; report. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to analyze the current efforts in the Commonwealth to combat the sale of illicit cannabis products and develop recommendations to enhance such enforcement efforts with a focus on protecting consumers and children from harmful, untested, and unregulated products. The bill requires the work group to complete its work and submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations, on General Laws, and for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations, on General Laws and Technology, on Rehabilitation and Social Services, and for Courts of Justice by October 1, 2025.
LETTER: SB 1442 Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and Human Resources; combat the sale of illicit cannabis products; work group; report.
Chief patron: Sen Dave Marsden (D)
Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Secretary of Health and Human Resources; combat the sale of illicit cannabis products; work group; report. Directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to analyze the current efforts in the Commonwealth to combat the sale of illicit cannabis products and develop recommendations to enhance such enforcement efforts with a focus on protecting consumers and children from harmful, untested, and unregulated products. The bill requires the work group to complete its work and submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations, on General Laws, and for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations, on General Laws and Technology, on Rehabilitation and Social Services, and for Courts of Justice by October 1, 2025.
2/17/2025 House: Tabled in Rules (12-Y 6-N)
Bill was laid on the table with the offer of a letter from the Chair to the Secretary requesting the workgroup be convened. Virgina NORML is a named work group member.