In Virginia, a person aged 21 or older may legally possess marijuana in public in an amount not exceeding one ounce. Possession of larger amounts in public or outside of the person’s residence remains unlawful, and the person possessing an amount of one ounce or larger can be subject to penalties ranging from a civil fine to a felony prison sentence. However, Section 4.1-1100(C) of the Virginia Code allows an individual to possess an unlimited amount of marijuana so long as the person possesses it for personal use at their own residence.
The law is stricter when it comes to marijuana plants. Section 4.1-1101 of the Virginia Code permits a person to grow up to four plants at their residence for personal use. Cultivating a greater number of plants is unlawful and can subject the person to a range of punishments between a civil fine and felony conviction.
Confusingly, Virginia law allows for an unlimited amount of marijuana to be possessed by a person for personal use at their residence, but caps the number of marijuana plants that same person can grow at four plants.