CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – A bill awaiting Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature would make recreational cannabis legal starting January 1, but some people in support of an adult-use cannabis market say she should make some edits before the bill becomes law.

A growing number of people are worried the start date is too soon. People who want to start growing and selling will not have enough time to do so.

“We’re really thrilled that the bill has made it all the way to the governor’s desk, and we are really hopeful that she will look at practical changes around the start date,” said Chelsea Higgs Wise, executive director of Marijuana Justice.

The bill could have recreational cannabis hitting the market in Virginia as early as January 1.

Wise worries small businesses will not stand a chance against the four big companies already selling medical marijuana in the commonwealth.

“When we’re looking at this start date, who really benefits are the folks that are already here, but unfortunately, they are out-of-state operators, and they’re very large corporate operators,” Wise said. “We’re going to see lines wrapped around the block for these out-of-state, very large corporate cannabis operators that will be the direct competition for small Virginia businesses.”

Max Jackson, founder of Cannabis Wise Guys, said nine months is not enough time for new businesses to start growing and harvesting cannabis. Just growing the plant takes six months. Turning it into a packaged product takes another six.

“And that is assuming that you have a fully completed build and everything. It tends to take about 18 to 36 months to get those facilities online for the other production side of things,” Jackson said.

Only the people already growing in Virginia will be ready to have products on the shelves come January 1, Jackson said.

“You might walk into a dispensary and see 26 to 39 brands on the shelf. And it may look like, wow, there’s competition here,” Jackson said. “But if you look back, you’re going to find out that they’re owned by three to five different companies. And none of them are owned in Virginia.”

Jackson said states with fewer companies growing and selling cannabis for recreational use end up collecting less tax revenue.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.

Copyright 2026 WVIR. All rights reserved.