The  BEST  Cannabis in VA

The Cannabist Co. is selling its Virginia medical marijuana permit for $130 million plus a $30 million lease liability, a significantly higher offer that caused Curaleaf's planned $110 million Virginia expansion to unravel.

A Virginia bill has been introduced to require health care facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use non-combustible medical cannabis with a doctor's recommendation, subject to certain federal enforcement exemptions. This measure comes as incoming Governor Abigail Spanberger voices support for legalizing commercial adult-use sales, and other lawmakers pursue bills for resentencing past cannabis crimes and legalizing recreational sales by 2026.

Congressional dispute over Biden’s cannabis pardons (Newsletter: January 2, 2026)

- The Senate confirmed Sara Carter Bailey, who supports medical cannabis, as the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director.
- The IRS rejected a cannabis tourism group's nonprofit status, citing federal criminalization and private benefit concerns.
- State developments include an Indiana legalization bill, a Virginia bill for patient use in hospitals, Florida legislation on open containers, and a Michigan wholesale tax lawsuit being allowed to proceed.
- Wisconsin's Assembly Speaker stated his chamber lacks the votes for a medical cannabis bill despite his support for limited reform.
- Ukraine approved quotas for medical cannabis production for 2026.

Congressional Leaders Drop Attempt To Block Marijuana Rescheduling, While Preserving State Medical Cannabis Protections

4 In 5 Marijuana Consumers Oppose Hemp THC Ban Trump Signed Ahead Of Rescheduling And CBD Access Order, Poll Shows

The Senate confirmed Sara Carter Bailey as the White House drug czar and Director of the ONDCP, who will be central to implementing the administration's drug policy agenda, including marijuana and psychedelics. Carter, who has voiced enthusiastic support for medical cannabis and stated she has no problem with regulated legalization, takes on the role as the administration works to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.

The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments on a case challenging federal restrictions on marijuana consumers' gun rights, while a prohibitionist group announced plans to sue against federal rescheduling and retained former Attorney General Bill Barr. Other key developments include Massachusetts negotiating an increase to marijuana possession limits, New York reporting over $1.5 billion in legal sales for 2025, and the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on drug and weapons charges.

Marijuana Saw Some Big Moments In 2025—From Trump’s Rescheduling Order To State Legalization Momentum