2025 Regular SessionVirginia Legislature

SB970: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creating retail market, penalties.

Legislative Summary

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. This bill is identical to HB 2485.

Demographic Impact

Overall analysis of equity impact

Neutral
Medium ConfidenceView detailed demographic breakdown ↓

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Bill History

1/6/2025
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25102567D
Senate
1/6/2025
Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services
Senate
1/8/2025
Impact statement from VCSC (SB970)
Senate
1/17/2025
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
Senate
1/17/2025
Committee substitute printed 25105279D-S1
Senate
1/17/2025
Impact statement from VCSC (SB970)
Senate
1/28/2025
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
Senate
1/29/2025
Rules suspended
Senate
1/29/2025
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/29/2025
Passed by for the day
Senate
1/30/2025
Read second time
Senate
1/30/2025
Reading of substitute waived
Senate
1/30/2025
Rehabilitation and Social Services Substitute agreed to
Senate
1/30/2025
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Senate
1/30/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB970)
Senate
1/31/2025
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)
Senate
2/6/2025
Placed on Calendar
House of Delegates
2/6/2025
Read first time
House of Delegates
2/6/2025
Referred to Committee on General Laws
House of Delegates
2/6/2025
Reported from General Laws (13-Y 8-N)
House of Delegates
2/10/2025
Read second time
House of Delegates
2/11/2025
Passed by for the day
House of Delegates
2/12/2025
Read third time
House of Delegates
2/12/2025
Passed House (53-Y 44-N)
House of Delegates
3/7/2025
Enrolled
Senate
3/7/2025
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB970ER)
Senate
3/7/2025
Signed by Speaker
House of Delegates
3/10/2025
Signed by President
Senate
3/11/2025
Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025
Senate
3/11/2025
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025
3/14/2025
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB970)
Senate
3/24/2025
Vetoed by Governor
4/2/2025
Passed by for the day
Senate
4/2/2025
Senate sustained Governor's veto
Senate

Roll Call Votes

Passed House (53-Y 44-N)
2/12/2025
53
Yea
44
Nay
0
Not Voting
3
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from General Laws (13-Y 8-N)
2/6/2025
13
Yea
8
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)
1/31/2025
21
Yea
19
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N)
1/29/2025
38
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
2
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
1/28/2025
10
Yea
5
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 7-N)
1/17/2025
8
Yea
7
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Vetoed(3/24/2025)
Chamber
Senate

Sponsors

Documents

Enrolled
Bill Text3/7/2025740.4 KB
Comm Sub
Bill Text1/17/2025750.7 KB
Introduced
Bill Text1/6/2025751.9 KB
Misc
Misc3/24/202510.2 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis3/14/2025266.8 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/30/2025265.8 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/17/202555.0 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/8/202554.7 KB