How to get a Virginia Marijuana Cultivation License
Virginia marijuana legalization is here. If you want to learn how to get a Virginia Cultivation License you need to check the newest legislation passed on the state regarding the adult-use marijuana program.
on April 7, 2021- HB 2312 and SB 1406 were voted to be approved after Gov. Ralph Northam requested amendments from the legislature to the cannabis laws.
This bill will replace cannabis prohibition with a system to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older.
Many — but not all — of the law’s provisions require a second legislative vote in 2022, or “re-enactment.” The provisions to legalize marijuana possession and cultivation on July 1, 2021 do not require re-enactment. Nor do the penalties for minors possessing cannabis and provisions to allow the regulatory work to start.
The provisions to begin the regulatory structure and to legalize retail cannabis sales on January 1, 2024 also do not require re-enactment. Most new penalties — such as for bringing any cannabis into Virginia — do require re-enactment. The Virginia Cannabis Control authority will be responsible for regulating the adult-use marijuana program.
But what does the new legislation establish regarding the Virginia marijuana establishment licenses?
What is a VA marijuana cultivation license?
A Marijuana cultivation facility license authorizes the licensee to:
- cultivate,
- label, and
- package retail marijuana;
- purchase or take possession of marijuana plants and marijuana seeds from another marijuana cultivation facility;
- transfer possession of and sell retail marijuana, immature marijuana plants, and marijuana seeds to marijuana wholesaler license holders;
- transfer possession of and sell retail marijuana, marijuana plants, and marijuana seeds to other marijuana cultivation facilities;
- and to sell immature marijuana plants and marijuana seeds to consumers for the purpose of cultivating marijuana at home for personal use.
Licenses will be given out by the newly established Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.
The newest legislation establishes two classes of marijuana cultivation licenses:
-
- Class A cultivation facility license: Authorizes the licensee to cultivate not more than a certain number of marijuana plants or marijuana plants in an area not larger than a certain number of square feet, as determined by the Board;
- Class B cultivation facility license: Authorizes the licensee to cultivate marijuana plants with a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of no more than one percent, as determined post-decarboxylation.
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How to apply for a Virginia cannabis cultivation license
The legislative approval the Senate Bill 1406 and House Bill 2312 made Virginia the first southern state to legalize the possession and use of marijuana by adults.
Although beginning July 1, 2021 adults will be able to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and to cultivate up to four cannabis plants per household, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority will not adopt regulations regarding licensing prior to July 1, 2022, while the licensing process will not be available until July 1, 2024.
HB 2312 requires filing an application with the cannabis authority and a written statement affirming the accuracy of all information.
Take into account that if you are applying for an establishment license that requires an inspection by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, you will need to provide proof of inspection or proof of a pending request for an inspection. You can get a license but you will not be able to sell marijuana products until you pass inspection by the regulators.
What are the requirements for a Virginia Cannabis Business License?
Every applicant for a cannabis license in Virginia will also need to post a notice of his application on the front door of the building, place, or room proposed to engage in such cannabis business:
- The notice will be there for no more than 30 days and not less than 10 days.
- The size and information are determined by the adult-use marijuana licensing authority
- Any objections to the licensing authority are due not more than 30 days following initial posting of the notice
The cannabis license applicant must publish a notice at least once a week for two weeks in a newspaper published in or having a general circulation in the county, city, or town where the cannabis business will be located.
- The information contained in the notice will be determined by the adult-use marijuana licensing authority.
- Any objections have to be submitted to the licensing authority not later than 30 days from the date of the initial newspaper publication
What are the requirements for obtaining a Virginia cannabis cultivation license?
The state of Virginia recently legalized the cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. As a result, many entrepreneurs and business owners are interested in obtaining a Virginia cannabis cultivation license. However, the process can be complex and confusing, as there are several requirements that must be met before a license can be granted.
First and foremost, applicants must be at least 21 years old and legal residents of Virginia. Additionally, they must have no prior convictions for drug-related crimes or violent offenses. In order to prove this, applicants must submit to a fingerprint background check and provide documentation of their criminal history.
Once these initial requirements have been met, applicants must then submit a detailed business plan outlining their proposed cannabis cultivation operation. This plan should include information on the location of the cultivation facility, the types of cannabis strains that will be grown, and the expected production output.
Applicants must also provide proof of financial stability and demonstrate that they have the necessary funding to start and operate a cannabis cultivation business. This includes providing detailed financial statements and a breakdown of the costs associated with building and running the cultivation facility.
Finally, applicants must obtain approval from the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, which oversees the state’s medical cannabis program. This involves submitting an application and undergoing a thorough review process, during which the Board will evaluate the applicant’s qualifications, background, and business plan.
In summary, obtaining a Virginia cannabis cultivation license requires meeting several strict requirements, including being a legal resident of Virginia, having no prior drug-related or violent convictions, submitting a detailed business plan, proving financial stability, and obtaining approval from the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. It is important to understand these requirements and ensure the submission of all necessary documentation and information is provided in the application process.
Working with experienced attorneys and business professionals can also help navigate the process and increase the chances of a successful application and permitting issues after winning. With the right preparation and attention to detail, obtaining a Virginia cannabis cultivation license can be a viable option for those interested in entering the emerging cannabis industry in Virginia.
Background Checks for Cannabis License Application
The adult-use marijuana licensing authority must conduct a background check of each applicant for a license, which includes a criminal history records search, including a fingerprint-based national criminal history records search:
- The board may waive the requirement for a background check if a good cause is shown.
- An applicant cannot be disqualified because of a past conviction for a marijuana-related offense.
- The marijuana licensing authority has to notify the local governing body of each license application, and the local governing bodies must submit objections to the granting of a license within 30 days of the filing of the application
Application Fee
The information regarding the application fees is not available at the moment, the marijuana licensing authority is in charge of establishing the fees. However, HB 2312 provides the following information regarding the licensing fees:
- They require to be paid at the same time the application is filed (except that such fee is waived or discounted for qualified social equity applicants).
- The fee shall be in addition to the actual cost charged to the Department of State Police by the FBI or the Central Criminal Records Exchange for processing any fingerprints for each background check
- The fee shall be in addition to the state license fee and will not be refunded.
The Board has the authority to increase state license fees. The Board shall set the amount of such increases on the basis of the consumer price index and shall not increase fees more than once every three years. Prior to implementing any state license fee increase, the Board shall provide notice to all licensees and the general public of
- (i) the Board’s intent to impose a fee increase and
- (ii) the new fee that would be required for any license affected by the Board’s proposed fee increases. Such notice shall be provided on or before November 1 in any year in which the Board has decided to increase state license fees, and such increases shall become effective July 1 of the following year.
Record Keeping Required for Cannabis License in Virginia
Every Virginia cannabis licensee must file and maintain with the marijuana licensing authority a current, accurate record of the information required for the licensing and notify the licensing authority of any changes to such information in accordance with the regulations
Every application for a license has to be made on a form provided by the licensing authority.
A new Cannabis Control Authority would be created in July 2021 to regulate the adult-use cannabis market. A Board of Directors would issue regulations; grant, suspend, or revoke licenses.
License Caps and Limits for Virginia Marijuana Businesses
Virginia limits the number of cannabis business licenses in the state. The marijuana licensing authority must establish the number of licensees, the licenses cannot exceed the following numbers:
- Retailers: 400 licenses
- Wholesalers: 25 licenses
- Cultivators: 450 licenses
- Product Manufacturers: 60 licenses
These numbers do not take into consideration any previously established medical cannabis by the board of pharmacy business and/or hemp processors.
The licensing authority will also establish criteria to evaluate new licensees based on the density of retail stores in the community and to consider any negative public health outcomes in the community.
The law does not allow vertical integration (owning multiple types of cannabis businesses) except in the case of:
- Microbusinesses
- Existing medical cannabis businesses, all of which are vertically integrated, and hemp processors, must:
- pay a $1 million fee to the Virginia Cannabis Equity Loan Fund and the Virginia Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund; and
- the cannabis business submits a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan to the Cannabis Business Equity and Diversity Support Team and implements it or provides job training services to persons recently incarcerated.
The state requires geographically dispersed dispensaries. After every 100 licenses the state studies and verifies the geographically dispersion of the dispensaries.
Social Equity Applicants
The bill promotes inclusion by prioritizing social equity applicants. The bill defines “social equity applicants” as those having 66% or more owners who:
- Have a prior cannabis conviction
- Have a close relative with a cannabis conviction
- Live either in an area with disproportionate cannabis arrests or in an economically distressed area
- graduated from a Virginia HBCU
Social equity applicants get preference from July 1, 2023 until January 1, 2024. Regulators will also waive a percent of the application fees.
Additional Regulations Established in the Bill
Furthermore, the bill creates a Cannabis Business Equity and Diversity Support Team. Its goal is to identify barriers to inclusion, offer technical assistance, conduct outreach, and develop requirements for diversity, equity, and inclusion plans.
A new 21-member Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council would assess and monitor public health impacts and make recommendations. They would include warnings regarding cannabis products’ safety and product composition and public health awareness.
The bill includes requirements for seed-to-sale tracking, packaging and labeling. It also requires state-created information on risks to be available at the point-of-sale.
Rules would governs outdoor cultivation, sanitation, testing, and advertising.
Finally, regulators would also establish public health and safety guidelines for personal home cultivation. And created guidelines to protect children and prevent nuisances, including odor.
Timeframe of the cannabis license in Virginia
- Most of the bill — including legal possession — will take effect on July 1, 2021. (The current penalty for possession of up to an ounce is a civil fine of up to $25.)
- Sales would begin no earlier than January 1, 2024.
Taxes established on the cannabis license in Virginia
- The Board determines the fees and may increase them based on further action.
- After covering regulatory costs, the revenue allocation is as follows to:
- pre-K education for at-risk children (40%);
- a Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund (30%);
- substance abuse treatment and prevention (25%);
- and public health programs (5%).
- The Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, administered by a 20-member Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board, would direct funds to:
Scholarship programs for historically marginalized populations, including those who were in foster care, or impacted by substance use;
- Grants to support jobs training and placement, workplace development, youth mentoring, and reentry services;
- Contributing to the state’s Indigent Defense Fund; and
- No -and low- interest loans for social equity applicants.
If you want more information regarding the cannabis laws, medical marijuana laws, registered patients, or what could you do in order to enter the cannabis industry in Virginia, don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you want to be updated on the current state of Cannabis legalization, you should check out our map of marijuana legality by state.
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