Marijuana possession became legal in Virginia on July 1, 2021. In addition to medical marijuana being available, you can now purchase it for recreational use. There are, however, some caveats to the law.
Just like with alcohol use, a person must be 21 or over to purchase and possess marijuana. You are permitted to have up to one ounce in your possession at a time, and you may use it in your personal residence. You are permitted to share it with other adults who are 21 and over in your residence, and you may also grow up to 4 plants in your home.
It remains illegal to sell or distribute marijuana without proper licensure, and you may not offer it to another person in any public space.
Now that marijuana is legal, can I use it in my car?
The rules of the road have not changed. You are not permitted to use marijuana in your car while driving. Likewise, your passengers cannot use it while you are driving. This means that if you hire a limo to take you to a party, you may not use marijuana in the car. If you do, there could be penalties for you and for the chauffeur.
Can I apply to sell recreational marijuana?
Even though it is now legal to possess marijuana, those who want to sell it commercially will have to wait until January of 2024. Virginia lawmakers need time to create effective rules and regulations as this is new territory.
Laws regarding possession, sale and use of marijuana will continue to be written, reviewed, and revised between 2021 and 2024. In the meantime, it is best to approach using it with caution. Should you find yourself in a situation with law enforcement, obtaining legal guidance will be helpful.
