Retail Marijuana Bill Passes Virginia Senate
Retail sale in the Commonwealth of Virginia could begin as early as September 15, 2022. Getting your medical marijuana card means you can access Virginia marijuana dispensaries without waiting for new laws to pass.
Senate Bill 391 - SB 391
Currently the recreational sale of marijuana would not begin until 2024 but SB 391 which passed the Virginia Senate on February 14th would move up the time table for allowing the sale of recreational marijuana. If this bill passes the House and is ratified by the Governor then retail sale of marijuana could begin as early as September 2022.
The bill would also allow the licensing for the manufacturing, retail sale, and additional cultivation through the newly established Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. This bill would only allow current medical marijuana dispensaries in Virginia to begin recreational sales early and would put square foot limits on recreational cultivation space at these dispensaries.
Not All Marijuana Supporters Are Happy
Many activists that support marijuana legislation in Virginia are not happy with this bill because it would allow the current large medical marijuana dispensaries to get an even larger head start on recreational sale of marijuana. There are currently four licensed medical marijuana operators in Virginia and each license has the ability to open an additional five satellite facilities where they can sell marijuana products. These marijuana dispensaries are currently building up their foot print while selling medical marijuana and will be in a strong position once recreational sales begin.
As the current laws sit now, businesses applying for recreational marijuana licenses are going to have to wait until January 1, 2024 before they can begin selling marijuana products. Many feel this is already put them at a huge disadvantage because they will need to compete with well established businesses that have already enjoyed years of sales.
SB 391 would only expedite the sale of recreational marijuana to the medical dispensaries that currently hold licenses and not to businesses that have applied for their license to begin sales in January of 2024.
Will This Affect Medical Marijuana in Virginia?
SB 391 is facing an uphill battle in the House and would still have to be signed into law by the Governor of Virginia if it passes the House. Getting a marijuana card in Virginia is the only way for patients to get access to medical marijuana dispensaries in Virginia today. Regardless of the political wrangling that takes place in Virginia getting your medical cannabis card today is a great way to help alleviate the symptoms of your medical conditions.
Any medical condition could qualify you for medical marijuana treatment in Virginia. There is also legislation being proposed that could eliminate the need for patients to register with the state once approved by their marijuana doctor. This could significantly increase the speed at which patients can begin marijuana treatment once they are certified by our cannabis doctor.
How Can I Get My Marijuana Card in Virginia?
Getting your Virginia marijuana card has never been easier with CannabisMD TeleMed. All you need to do is click on the “Book An Appointment” button below to start the process. Once you have booked your medical marijuana evaluation you can complete the intake forms using any connect device through our online patient portal. After completing those forms all that is left to do is wait for your virtual appointment with our marijuana doctor from the comfort of your home.
Check out an overview of how the entire process of getting your marijuana card works.
Get approved for medical marijuana in Virginia today!
