Cannabis control; establishes framework for creation of retail marijuana market, penalties, report.

The state sales tax on marijuana was reduced from 8% to 6%.

A new 'microbusiness' license category was added, allowing entities to cultivate, process, and sell marijuana on a smaller scale.

Consumer education and training requirements were updated to explicitly include microbusinesses.

The licensing process now includes a lottery system for selecting applicants when demand exceeds available licenses.

New grounds for license denial were added for applicants who are delinquent in paying local taxes for 90 days or more.

Definitions were updated to remove specific references to 'inhalable' and 'topical' products and to include microbusinesses in various operational contexts.

The effective date for the section on closed meetings was updated to reflect the new session status, though the date itself remains July 1, 2026.

The list of amended and reenacted statutes was updated to include new sections (e.g., 3.2-4112, 3.2-4116) and exclude repealed sections (e.g., 3.2-4122 through 3.2-4126), ensuring the bill references the current legal code.

The bill was reclassified from a Senate Substitute to a Governor Substitute, indicating the Governor has taken control of the legislation to make final adjustments before signing.

The document structure was altered to include 'House Substitute' headers, page numbers, and a timestamp, while the actual legal text and policy provisions were not modified.

Removed a placeholder date ('OFFERED FOR CONSIDERATION 1/23/2026') from the top of the document.

Added a 'HOUSE SUBSTITUTE' header and bill tracking number to the top of the document.

The header status changed from 'Enrolled' (final) to 'General Laws Substitute' (draft), indicating the bill is being revised before final passage.

The list of amended statutes was updated to remove references to sections that were repealed in the original bill (e.g., 3.2-4126, 3.2-5145.4, 4.1-1101.1, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-251.1) and to correct section numbering for the new cannabis chapters.

Minor formatting and spacing adjustments were made throughout the text, including the removal of bracketed bill numbers and the reorganization of the header information.

The bill was formally enacted and enrolled, transitioning from a proposed draft to an official state law.

New sections were added to the final text, including provisions for Chapter 17 and specific sections in Chapters 6, 14, and 16, expanding the regulatory details.

A new Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund was created to support communities historically impacted by drug enforcement, with specific allocation percentages for various programs.

Specific licensing limits and definitions were refined in the final version, such as the maximum number of retail marijuana stores and the square footage limits for cultivation facilities.

New requirements were added for labor peace agreements, mandating that licensees enter into agreements with bona fide labor organizations to prevent strikes or boycotts.

Precise definitions were established for terms like 'impact licensee,' 'historically economically disadvantaged community,' and various types of marijuana establishments to guide regulatory compliance.

Specific penalties, civil fines, and forfeiture procedures were codified for violations such as selling to minors, failing to pay taxes, or operating without a license.