Virginia POS & Payments for Cannabis, Hemp & CBD Retailers

• Start date: Adult-use sales begin July 1, 2027.
• Applications: The CCA can accept applications from February 1, 2027, and issue licenses from May 1, 2027.
• License caps: No more than 350 retail store licenses statewide.
• Purchase limits: Draft rules cap each sale at 2 ounces of flower, 8 grams of concentrate or 800 milligrams of THC in edibles.
• Taxes: A 6% state cannabis tax (8% from July 1, 2029), plus sales and use tax and a local cannabis tax of 1% to 3.5%.
• Small business focus: Up to 100 microbusiness licenses in the first round go to impact applicants, farmers and eligible hemp businesses. Existing medical operators pay $10 million to convert to dual-use.

Virginia dispensaries must track cannabis from cultivation through final sale, report required data through the state-mandated tracking system, and maintain audit-ready records for inspections and compliance reviews. A compliant cannabis POS should support traceability, reporting, and recordkeeping from day one.

Key requirements include:

• Using the state-mandated tracking platform to report sales, inventory, and customer data. Metrc runs Virginia's medical tracking system and is expected to serve the adult-use market
• Maintaining accurate inventory records and audit trails across all transactions
• Keeping inspection-ready records that support compliance reviews and ongoing oversight
• Using a cannabis POS that can automate reporting and support day-to-day compliance workflows

Cova has deep experience integrating with Metrc and includes built-in compliance automation to help Virginia retailers stay inspection-ready and run their stores smoothly. Schedule a call to learn more.

Adult-use sales will carry a 6% state excise tax on top of Virginia’s 5.3% retail sales and use tax, and localities may add up to 3.5% more. That is up to three layers on a single transaction, which is one of the many reasons to run tax calculation through your POS rather than calculating it by hand. 

Virginia dispensaries must track cannabis from cultivation through final sale, report required data through the state-mandated tracking system, and maintain audit-ready records for inspections and compliance reviews. A compliant cannabis POS should support traceability, reporting, and recordkeeping from day one. 

Key requirements include:

• Using the state-mandated tracking platform Metrc to report sales, inventory, and customer data
• Maintaining accurate inventory records and audit trails across all transactions
• Keeping inspection-ready records that support compliance reviews and ongoing oversight
• Using a cannabis POS that can automate reporting and support day-to-day compliance workflows

Cova has deep experience integrating with the major seed-to-sale tracking systems and includes built-in compliance automation to help Virginia retailers stay inspection-ready and run their stores smoothly. 

Cova is built to meet the compliance and operational needs of Virginia cannabis retailers, with features designed to keep your store running smoothly from day one:

• ID Scanning & Age Verification: Quickly verify customer eligibility and prevent underage sales with integrated ID scanning.
• Purchase Tracking & Limit Enforcement: Automatically calculate and enforce state-mandated purchase limits to ensure compliance on every transaction.
• Seed-to-Sale Traceability: Integrate with state-mandated tracking system, Metrc, to log all sales and inventory movements accurately.
• Advanced Inventory Management: Easily manage complex cannabis inventory – including flower, edibles, and concentrates – with automated unit conversions and real-time tracking.

Yes, retailers need a purpose-built cannabis POS system before opening a dispensary in Virginia because a generic retail POS is not built for cannabis compliance, Metrc integration, inventory controls, reporting, or inspection-ready recordkeeping.

While you may not need to purchase your POS before the CCA application window opens on February 1, 2027, you cannot legally operate or pass state inspections without one.

Virginia's cannabis industry, regulated by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), requires strict inventory tracking and compliance reporting, which are handled through the POS.

Virginia cannabis retailers must follow strict regulations and use a POS system with built-in compliance features, including:

• Seed-to-sale inventory tracking to ensure full product traceability
• Purchase limit enforcement to prevent over-selling beyond legal limits
• ID and age verification with integrated ID scanning
• Secure payment handling and financial reporting
• Accurate state and local tax calculation on every transaction
• Packaging and labeling compliance based on state requirements
• Integration with Metric for state-mandated real-time reporting
• Automated audit trails and recordkeeping to stay inspection-ready

These features help automate compliance, reduce human error, and keep your dispensary running smoothly from day one.

With Cova, compliance is built into every workflow. Schedule a free consultation to see how Cova can help you launch your Virginia dispensary with confidence.

Cannabis businesses typically cannot rely on traditional credit card processing due to federal restrictions. Most Virginia dispensaries will use compliant payment solutions such as debit, ACH, or cashless payment systems to serve their customers.

Choosing a POS with integrated cannabis payments helps reduce risk, improve security, and simplify daily operations by keeping everything in one system.

To better understand your options, check out our Cannabis Dispensary Payment Guide.

Cova also offers an integrated cannabis payment solution designed to work seamlessly with your Virginia Dispensary POS.

With applications opening February 1, 2027, there’s a lot you can do to get ahead:

• Choose and set up your cannabis POS system
• Train staff on workflows and compliance
• Build your menu and inventory processes
• Plan for high-volume launch days
• Getting ready early gives you a major advantage when the market opens – helping you launch smoothly while others are still catching up.

Before anything else, you’ll need to secure your license. For a step-by-step breakdown, check out our complete guide on how to open a dispensary.

In a new and highly regulated market like Virginia, your POS system is the backbone of your dispensary. The right platform helps you stay compliant with evolving regulations, avoid costly mistakes, and run your operations efficiently from day one.

It also ensures you’re ready to handle growth – especially during high-demand moments like your grand opening, 4/20, and peak sales periods – without slowdowns or disruptions.

Dispensary POS costs in Virginia vary based on your store size, register count, payments setup, integrations, and support requirements. Compare platform features, onboarding, compliance tools, and operational support your dispensary needs, then review current pricing and package options.