Virginia residents will be able to legally grow cannabis plants in their homes to start July 1.
Under the Commonwealth’s new law, Virginians will be able to grow up to four cannabis plants in their home, but they are not allowed to buy or sell cannabis seeds. It is also illegal to share or offer those seeds in public or send them across state lines.
Thursday, July 1, 2021 was the first day of cannabis legalization in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Virginia new law legalizes growing cannabis, gifting it, and having an ounce or less in your possession if you’re over 21. However, selling it, buying it, or driving with it will still be illegal.
Virginia Marijuana Justice (VAMJ) hosted ‘The Great Commonwealth Cannabis Seed Share’ in three locations on Thursday: Arlington, Richmond, and Stuart.
In honor of this momentous occasion, VAMJ is hosting “The Great Commonwealth Cannabis Seed Share” to facilitate personal home cultivation of cannabis permitted under the new law, the organization said in a statement.
This will be Virginia residents’ first legal opportunity to share seeds with other adults and start down the path of legally growing their own cannabis in the safety and privacy of their homes.
This event will be hosted in several locations throughout the state, VAMJ said.
According to VAMJ, it had 10,000 marijuana seeds to distribute.
On April 7, 2021, Virginia became the first state in the South to begin the process of legalizing adult-use cannabis. HB2312 (Herring) and SB1406 (Ebbin; Lucas), introduced by Governor Northam and passed by the 2021 General Assembly, prioritize social equity, public health and public safety and lay out a three year process to legalize cannabis and create a regulatory framework for the sale of the product.
These changes begin on July 1, 2021 with the creation of a new state authority to regulate the industry and with the legalization of simple possession and home cultivation for adults 21 years and over. Following reenactment by the 2022 General Assembly, the Cannabis Control Authority, advised by a Health Advisory Council, will complete regulations, implement a social equity program, and issue business licenses. On January 1, 2024, assuming reenactment, legal sales to adults 21 and older can begin.
What is legal on July 1, 2021?
Legal:
- Adults 21 years and older will be allowed to possess not more than one ounce of cannabis for personal use.
- Generally, adults 21 years and older will be allowed to use marijuana in private residences. However, nothing prohibits the owner of a private residence from restricting the use of marijuana on its premises.
- Adults 21 and over will also be allowed to grow up to four plants per household (not per person), according to specified requirements (see “Home Cultivation” below).
- “Adult sharing” or transferring one ounce or less of marijuana between persons who are 21 years or older without remuneration will be legal. “Adult sharing” does not include instances in which (i) marijuana is given away contemporaneously with another reciprocal transaction between the same parties; (ii) a gift of marijuana is offered or advertised in conjunction with an offer for the sale of goods or services; or (iii) a gift of marijuana is contingent upon a separate reciprocal transaction for goods or services.
Illegal:
- It will remain illegal for anyone to possess more than one ounce of marijuana. Individuals found guilty of possessing more than one ounce, but not more than one pound of marijuana are subject to a civil penalty of not more than $25. Individuals found guilty of possessing more than one pound are subject to a felony.
- It will remain illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume, purchase, or possess marijuana, or to attempt to consume, purchase or possess any amount of marijuana.
- It will remain illegal to distribute or sell marijuana, and/or to possess any amount of marijuana with the intent to distribute or sell it. This prohibition applies equally to businesses, which will not be permitted to sell, “gift,” or in any other way distribute marijuana. For more information on how to obtain a license to sell marijuana in the future, see Adult-Use Cannabis Commercial Sales below.
- Existing safety measures will remain in place, including prohibiting use of marijuana while driving a motor vehicle or while being a passenger in a motor vehicle being driven; possessing marijuana on school grounds, while operating a school bus, in a motor vehicle transporting passengers for hire, or in a commercial vehicle.
- It will remain illegal to consume marijuana or offer marijuana to another person in any public place.
When will sales of marijuana begin?
It will not be legal to sell marijuana before January 1, 2024. The law will create a new, independent political subdivision (“an authority”) to regulate the marijuana industry. While the Cannabis Control Authority can begin its work on July 1, 2021, it will take time for the authority to hire staff, write regulations, and implement equity and safety initiatives. Additionally, many of the regulatory sections of the bill must be reenacted (approved again) by the 2022 General Assembly before becoming law.
Source: https://www.cannabis.virginia.gov
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