# Virginia SB542: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report. Virginia SB542, Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Lashrecse D. Aird (Democratic); status vetoed, last action 2026-05-19 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB542-2026 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia SB542 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report. - Status: vetoed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-05-19, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Lashrecse D. Aird (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 18 (384 yes, 207 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## 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 provides that no retail sales may occur prior to January 1, 2027. Effective January 1, 2027, the bill also moves oversight of the retail sale of certain regulated hemp products from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. This bill incorporates SB 671 and SB 826 and is identical to HB 642. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Lashrecse D. Aird (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-22 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 64 | 32 | | | 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-04 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 | | | 2026-03-04 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 66 | 33 | | | 2026-02-27 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 16 | 6 | | | 2026-02-24 | House | Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 16 | 4 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 21 | 19 | | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 20 | 19 | 1 | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-16 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-13 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 7 | 5 | 3 | | 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 | | | 2026-01-23 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Courts of Justice | pass | 8 | 7 | | ## Actions (75) - 2026-05-19: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-05-19: Governor's Veto Received by Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Passed by for the day Block Vote (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-04-22: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-04-22: Communicated to Governor (Senate) - 2026-04-14: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (4/14/2026 4:24 pm) (Senate) - 2026-04-14: Substitute bill reprinted 26110453D (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542) (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB542ER) (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 32-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (3/13/2026 7:32 pm) (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Conference Report released - 2026-03-04: House Conferees: Krizek, Herring, Morefield (House) - 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2026-03-04: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: House requested conference committee (House) - 2026-03-04: House insisted on substitute (House) - 2026-03-04: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Passed House with substitute (66-Y 33-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-04: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-03-04: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-03-04: committee substitute rejected (House) - 2026-03-04: Read third time (House) - 2026-03-04: Senate Conferees: Aird, VanValkenburg, Rouse, Head, Lucas (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/27/2026 3:37 pm) (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Committee substitute printed 26108819D-H2 (House) - 2026-02-27: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (16-Y 6-N) (House) - 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/25/2026 1:08 pm) (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Committee substitute printed 26108519D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-25: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety (House) - 2026-02-24: House committee offered (House) - 2026-02-24: Reported from General Laws with substitute and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 4-N) (House) - 2026-02-24: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542) (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Referred to Committee on General Laws (House) - 2026-02-23: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-23: Placed on Calendar (House) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 1-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB542) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 8:52 am) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Read second time (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Substitute bill reprinted 26107979D (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107979D-S3 (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2026-02-13: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Incorporates SB826 (Lucas) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (7-Y 5-N 3-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 2:10 pm) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107341D-S2 (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Senate committee amendments offered (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-04: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 4:45 pm) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with substitute and rereferred to Courts of Justice (8-Y 7-N) (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Incorporates SB671 (Rouse) (Senate) - 2026-01-20: Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/20/2026 1:49 pm) (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104073D (Senate) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2026-05-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225844.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-04-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220060.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220059.PDF) - Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220063.HTML) - Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213289.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213288.PDF) - Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211224.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211228.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211227.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186460.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186459.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179393.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179392.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178759.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178758.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148438.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148437.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095521.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095520.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132671.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132670.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1129892.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1129891.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127241.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116270.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116269.PDF) - Substitute, 2026-01-23: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094811.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094810.PDF) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090837.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090836.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225844.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220060.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220059.PDF) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220063.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213289.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213288.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211224.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211228.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1211227.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186460.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186459.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179393.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179392.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178759.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1178758.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148438.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1148437.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095521.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1095520.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132671.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132670.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1129892.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1129891.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1127241.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116270.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116269.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094811.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1094810.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090837.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090836.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB542-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).