Arlington County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Arlington County?

Yes. Arlington County residents and licensed pharmaceutical processors are allowed to grow marijuana plants. Home cultivation of up to four (4) marijuana plants is permitted per household (not per person) by adults aged 21. Growing the plants can be done indoors or outdoors, but rental housing may restrict this activity. Cultivation should be at his primary residence if the individual has two or more homes.

If you plan to grow your marijuana plant, do not display the plant within public view and ensure that persons under 21 years of age have no access to it. Each plant must have a legible tag showing the owner’s name, driver’s license, or ID number, and a note that the plant is legally authorized for personal consumption.

A licensed pharmaceutical processor may cultivate cannabis plants to manufacture and produce medical cannabis, and dispense the product to certified patients. The Virginia Department of Health Board of Pharmacy issues and renews a maximum of five (5) permits, one for each health service established by the DOH.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Arlington County?

Yes. The Board of Pharmacy provides rules and regulations regarding the health, safety, and security requirements for pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities. These regulations include requirements for physical standards, location restrictions, security systems and control, minimum equipment and resources, and recordkeeping, among others. The label of the products must contain the potency of each botanical cannabis product and the amounts prescribed by the physician or pharmacist.

After processing and before dispensing any marijuana products, pharmaceutical processors shall provide a sample from each batch of cannabis product to be tested by an independent laboratory in the state, as required by the Board.

Pharmaceutical processors must designate an authorized person to oversee the cultivation and production areas of the manufacturer.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Arlington County?

Yes. A licensed pharmaceutical processor or dispensing facility may sell or deliver cannabis products to the following persons:

1. A registered patient residing in Virginia

2. A temporary resident of the state with valid written certification

3. The patient’s registered agent, or

4. The patient’s parent or legal guardian, if the patient is a minor or a vulnerable adult

The retailers shall not dispense cannabis products exceeding a 90-day supply, as determined by the pharmacist or certified practitioner.

However, the sale of marijuana for recreational use is not yet in force. Possession of small amounts of cannabis is allowed, but buying from dispensaries without a medical marijuana card is not permitted.

21-year-old adults in Arlington County may possess up to one (1) ounce of marijuana. The law even allows the cultivation of marijuana plants for personal use. However, home-grown marijuana cannot be sold to other people; otherwise, the individual may be subject to misdemeanor or felony charges. Adult sharing or transferring of less than one ounce of marijuana between persons who are 21 years old is allowed.

Arlington County residents may purchase botanical cannabis, cannabis oil, and other cannabis products authorized by the Board in the licenses issued to the dispensing facilities. Some cannabis products available at local dispensaries are extracts, tinctures, vape pens, and vape cartridges. Marijuana edibles are also approved for sale at dispensaries, or you can make your DIY edibles.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Arlington County?

Yes. Dispensaries in Arlington County are now offering delivery services for their products. Customers may choose between regular shipping or same-day delivery. Patients with a written certification or a medical marijuana card have access to medical cannabis delivery.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Arlington County

To obtain medical cannabis, the patient, parent, legal guardian, or registered agent only needs to have a written certification for the use of medical cannabis from a registered practitioner and a government-issued ID presented to cannabis dispensaries. Starting July 1, 2022, House Bill 933 amended the requirement that a registration card issued by the Board of Pharmacy is needed to possess medical marijuana products.

While registration cards are no longer required, patients may opt to have one for $50. In case you wish to register with the Board of Pharmacy, the patient, parent, legal guardian, or registered agent must have a written certification for the use of cannabis products from a Board of Pharmacy-registered practitioner prior to application and complete the online application.

The law does not specify the conditions needed to obtain medical cannabis products. To give some examples, here are some qualifying conditions to obtain written certification for the use of medical marijuana:

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Anorexia

• Anxiety

• Arthritis

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Chronic Pain

• Crohn’s Disease

• Insomnia

• Lupus

• Migraines

• Multiple Sclerosis

Board of Pharmacy

Phone Number: (804) 367-4456

FAX Number: (804) 527-4472

E-mail: pharmbd@dhp.virginia.gov / cbd@dhp.virginia.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Arlington County?

Data on recreational marijuana sales is lacking because selling them at dispensaries remains prohibited in Virginia. Lawmakers have yet to propose legislation legalizing the recreational marijuana market. If the market launches by 2024, it is projected to hit more than $500 million in sales and could exceed $1 billion in sales in 2026. On the other hand, the medical marijuana market was estimated to reach $25 million in sales in 2022; and up to $95 million by 2026.

Patients and recreational users shall be required to pay a 5.30% sales tax on every purchase of medical marijuana or marijuana for personal use by 2023. As for medical marijuana, no additional excise tax will be imposed on it. In contrast, recreational cannabis users shall be subject to an added excise tax of 21% in 2023.

A report has stated that Virginia could generate over $300 million annually in tax revenue if the state legalized recreational marijuana.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Arlington County

The FBI Crime Data Explorer reports arrests for illegal possession, sale, and manufacturing of marijuana in every state annually. In August 2020, the first medical cannabis dispensary opened. The following year or in July 2021, the possession and use of recreational marijuana were legalized by the state. Since then, with the limited references and data because of the fairly new legislation, arrests for illegal activities involving marijuana have decreased.

In 2019, there were nearly 22,000 arrests for illegal possession of marijuana in Virginia. In the succeeding years, this number reduced to 11,000 and 1,700 arrests by 2020 and 2021, respectively. Meanwhile, over 1,700 arrests occurred for the illegal sale and manufacturing of cannabis products in 2019. The number of arrests lessened in 2020 and 2021 to 1,000 and 340.

The Arlington County Police Department reported that in 2019, over 300 individuals were apprehended possessing illegal marijuana in Arlington County. By 2020, the number of arrests for the unlawful possession of cannabis went down to 200, and in 2021, to nearly 30 arrests. On the other hand, more than 40 arrests were made for the illegal sale and manufacturing of marijuana in 2019. This figure reduced to 40 and 20 arrests by the end of 2020 and 2021, respectively.