Fiscal Year 2023 was a banner year for the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (“CCA" or “Authority"). It featured tremendous growth and production. Having laid a strong foundation last year, the CCA intensified work this year on building the Authority from the ground up.

Highlights for the CCA start with the growth in the size of its team and duties.

Staff more than doubled, which enabled expansion of the Authority’s regulatory, legislative, administrative, and analytics capabilities.

The CCA’s responsibilities grew this year, too. Policymakers entrusted the CCA with oversight of the medical cannabis program (beginning January 1, 2024) and regulation of cannabis advertising. They also tasked the CCA with analyzing whether the medical cannabis program should be expanded and identifying additional policy tools Virginia might deploy to address the public health and safety challenges caused by the proliferation of consumable hemp products.

The Authority’s lean, yet creative and industrious, team produced at an impressive level. They published 16 educational documents providing practical information on various public safety and public health issues related to cannabis, held seven town halls throughout Virginia, made more than a dozen other public presentations, launched an informative and popular website, initiated a social media presence across multiple platforms, rolled out a safe driving campaign highlighting the dangers and costs of cannabis-impaired driving, and advised lawmakers on dozens of legislative measures. And that’s only a partial accounting! These accomplishments are not abstract achievements. Rather, they all serve to make Virginians safer and healthier.

The CCA has no plans to rest on its laurels. The momentum established last year has carried over to the current fiscal year, as this report makes clear. Important work is underway, including preparations to assume oversight of the medical cannabis program, stepping up the safe driving campaign to produce positive behavioral change, publishing additional educational resources that are responsive to community needs, and planning for the next legislative session.

The CCA’s work is consequential and energizing, and its dedicated staff is focused on promoting public safety and health in the Commonwealth. As eventful and successful as this past year was, the CCA’s most important work lies ahead. I am confident we are up to the task and could not be more proud to be part of the CCA team.

/s/ John F. Keohane
Virginia CCA Chair
Police Chief – Retired