Council directs planning commission to prioritize cannabis zoning, tax and buffer decisions

Town staff presented an introduction to the Virginia Cannabis Control Act and outlined the local decisions the council will need to make before state licensing opens: which types of cannabis establishments to allow, where they may locate, distance buffers from schools, daycares and hospitals, hours of sale and local business-license taxation (between 1% and 3.5%).

Town attorney/town staff explained that the state Cannabis Control Authority will issue licenses beginning Feb. 1, 2027, and that localities must have zoning and local code in place in advance to object to applications that contravene local rules. Staff told council: "recreational cannabis sales are planned to begin 07/01/2027, with state licensing applications opening, February of next year." The presentation stressed the need to adopt zoning amendments, consider using special-use permits to impose conditions, and set a tax and hours to fit local policy goals.

Council agreed to ask the planning commission to treat cannabis-related ordinance changes as a priority and requested that planning solicit public input and deliver recommendations for council consideration before Dec. 1. Council members discussed collecting comparative data on revenues, law-enforcement impacts and banking/retail safety from jurisdictions with early programs. Staff will present a proposed timeline at the next meeting to work back from the Feb. 1 application date.