In 2014, James Madison University (JMU), University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia State University (VSU), and Virginia Tech (VT) began research programs. In 2016, the four state-owned universities planted 37 acres in hemp. In 2018, the state authorized private institutions of higher education to join in the research. By 2018, that grew to 135 acres on both privately-owned land and public land.

The Virginia’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) regulates industrial hemp cultivation and processing. The state requires separate licenses for growers, processors and dealers.

On July 15, 2019, Virginia hemp processors were notified by VDACS that it would “treat hemp-derived extracts intended for human consumption as approved food additives and place qualifying Registered Industrial Hemp Processors under food safety inspection so that inspected and approved processors may manufacture a hemp-derived extract for human consumption”.

According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services database, there were 1,291 growers, 234 dealers and 360 processors registrations in 2020, and 9,093 acres registered land areas comparing to 1,183 growers, 262 dealers,117 processors registrations and 2,244 acres in 2019. In 2021 the amount of approved acreage declined as a result of oversupply and market correction across the industry and totaled 350 acres planted and 300 acres harvested according to the National Hemp Report.

On November 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) plan to regulate hemp production in the Commonwealth. This approval allows VDACS to continue as the primary regulator of hemp production in Virginia.

Virginia Hemp Industry Infographics

Virginia Cannabis Market