Virginia legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021 but has not opened the recreational retail market. Fairfax County allows only Cannabis Control Authority licensed pharmaceutical processors, not adult-use dispensaries.
Virginia's Cannabis Control Act (SB 1406, 2021) legalized adult possession and home cultivation but the General Assembly has not enacted the retail framework needed to license recreational dispensaries. The Cannabis Control Authority oversees the medical cannabis pharmaceutical processor program, and Fairfax County's Zoning Ordinance allows these facilities only in specific commercial and industrial districts subject to special exception review. Unlicensed gifting shops and gray-market storefronts are not permitted and have been targeted by Fairfax County Police and the Commonwealth's Attorney. If the state authorizes adult-use retail, Fairfax may impose additional buffers and zoning conditions before any storefront can operate.
Operating an unlicensed cannabis storefront violates state law and Fairfax zoning, exposing operators to criminal charges, civil penalties, and forfeiture of inventory.
Fairfax County, VA
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See how Fairfax County's dispensary zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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