Virginia's Cannabis Control Authority is required by Virginia Code Title 4.1 to prioritize social equity applicants when retail licensing opens; Richmond residents in historically over-policed neighborhoods may qualify.
Virginia's adult-use cannabis statute directs the Cannabis Control Authority to issue licenses prioritizing social equity applicants, including Virginians with prior misdemeanor cannabis convictions, residents of historically economically disadvantaged communities, and graduates of HBCUs. Richmond's Southside and East End neighborhoods, which experienced the highest pre-2021 cannabis enforcement rates, are expected to qualify under the CCA's mapped equity zones. Loan and technical assistance programs are funded by the Virginia Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund. Licensing remains pending the General Assembly's enabling vote on retail sales, and timelines have shifted multiple times since 2021.
Misrepresenting residency or equity status on a CCA application can result in license denial, revocation and civil penalties under Virginia Code Title 4.1.
See how Richmond's social equity licensing rules stack up against other locations.
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