NoVa State Sen. Adam Ebbin Leaves Legislature to Run Virginia Cannabis Control Authority Under Spanberger

Get ready, Virginia: Retail marijuana sales are coming to your neighborhood—and Democrats just made sure you can’t stop it.

Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger has hand-picked Northern Virginia State Senator Adam Ebbin to serve as Senior Advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority—the agency responsible for rolling out commercial pot shops across the Commonwealth. Ebbin announced his resignation from the Senate effective February 18 to take the job.

Ebbin has been the architect of Virginia’s marijuana laws since the beginning. He championed decriminalization in 2020 and legalization in 2021 alongside House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria). Now Spanberger is putting him in charge of the final step: retail sales.

Here’s what the Democrat plan includes, according to the Virginia Mercury:

• 350 retail marijuana stores across Virginia
• Sales could begin as early as November 1, 2026
• No local opt-outs—your county or city CANNOT vote to keep pot shops out
• Stores cannot be within 1,000 feet of churches, schools, and playgrounds
• An estimated $400 million in annual revenue for Richmond to spend

Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed retail marijuana legislation multiple times, protecting communities that didn’t want commercial pot sales. But with Spanberger in the Governor’s mansion and Democrats controlling both chambers, that protection is gone.

Delegate Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax) is carrying the legislation. According to VPM News, Spanberger has pledged to sign it into law.

This is what total Democrat control looks like. Your community’s voice? Silenced. Your ability to opt out? Eliminated. Richmond Democrats and Abigail Spanberger have decided: pot shops are coming whether you like it or not.