The FBI raided Virginia state senate president pro tempore L. Louise Lucas's (D.) district office and a neighboring cannabis dispensary she co-owns as part of a corruption probe involving at least 10 locations, Fox News reported Wednesday morning.
Lucas's Portsmouth office staffers were brought outside as the FBI carried boxes out of the building. Across the parking lot, a SWAT team ordered everyone inside the Cannabis Outlet to exit the building, then handcuffed at least three people who were taken into custody.
NOW: An FBI raid is unfolding at the office of Virginia Democratic State Sen. Louise Lucas — and it’s already drawing serious attention.
Multiple people on the scene are reportedly being taken into custody as agents move through the area.
The office sits near several cannabis… pic.twitter.com/WIcn9xrzOy
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 6, 2026
The FBI is currently carrying out a raid at the office of Senator Louise Lucas in Portsmouth, VA. Here at this nearby cannabis dispensary, at least three people were taken into custody. Federal law enforcement say they’re conducting "court authorized criminal search warrants". pic.twitter.com/UL2c7yAk0L
— Alex Hogan (@AlexHoganTV) May 6, 2026
Lucas, one of Virginia's most powerful Democrats, told Fox News she had "no idea" why the FBI was there and asked the reporter what other locations agents were investigating. She did not respond to a Washington Free Beacon request for comment.
The FBI confirmed it was "executing a court-authorized federal search warrant," but declined to provide any additional information.
The investigation was opened under the Biden administration and is examining possible corruption and bribery tied to dispensaries, two people familiar with the case told the New York Times.
This is not the first time Lucas—a foul-mouthed, trash-talking 82-year-old and a leader in the General Assembly's push to gerrymander Virginia to leave Republicans with a 10-1 disadvantage—has come under fire over her cannabis shop. The advocacy group Virginians for Safe Cannabis in 2022 found the Cannabis Outlet illegally sold products containing THC. In one instance, a "Lucky Charms" cereal bar, complete with an image of a stoned leprechaun, had 30 milligrams of Delta-9 THC—albeit that's far lower than the 600 milligrams it advertised, the Virginia Mercury reported.
During an interview at the state capitol, Lucas expressed her surprise about her shop's sale of a controlled substance. "I sell hemp products and CBD," she told the local outlet. She did not respond to a reporter's emailed questions and chastised him for trying to confront her in person.
Lucas co-sponsored legislation this year that would allow dispensaries to sell THC products, which are legal to possess in Virginia, but cannot be sold. Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D.) sent the bill back to the General Assembly with amendments that included harsher penalties and reduced the number of stores that could initially open, but the legislature rejected them. Spanberger has until midnight on May 24 to sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without her signature.
Lucas, who stumped for Spanberger on the campaign trail last year, has long promoted marijuana use. Spanberger acknowledged the raid in a statement but declined to comment. Lucas posted an image of a bong on social media with the caption, "I fill my bong with Republican tears," on April 20, which is often celebrated as a day to smoke marijuana. She referred to the date as "Louise Lucas Day" on X and posted an image of Elmo dancing in response to a user saying she was taking a bong hit in her honor.
