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Bill

HB 4371

Relating to legalizing cannabis production, sales and adult consumption

2026 Regular Session

West Virginia bill legalizes adult cannabis production, sales, and use through regulated market framework, generating tax revenue while raising enforcement and public health questions.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 4371

Legislative bill overview

HB 4371 proposes to legalize cannabis production, sales, and consumption for adults in West Virginia, moving the state from prohibition to a regulated market framework. The bill would establish the legal infrastructure for growing, distributing, and using cannabis for non-medical purposes by individuals of legal age.

Why is this important

This represents a significant shift in West Virginia drug policy and could generate substantial state tax revenue while reducing enforcement costs currently spent on cannabis-related arrests and prosecutions. The change would also affect criminal justice outcomes, employment practices, and potentially create a new industry with associated jobs, while raising questions about public health, impaired driving enforcement, and social equity in market access.

Potential points of contention

  • Economic vs. public health trade-offs: Proponents emphasize tax revenue and job creation; opponents cite potential increases in youth access, impaired driving incidents, and public health costs
  • Regulatory framework specifics: Disagreement over licensing requirements, potency limits, home cultivation allowances, and social equity provisions for communities previously harmed by enforcement
  • Federal-state conflict: Cannabis remains Schedule I under federal law, creating banking, interstate commerce, and employment complications despite state legalization
  • Existing medical program integration: Questions about how adult-use legalization affects the state's existing medical cannabis program and patient protections

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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