How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Virginia? (Updated – 2023)

Yes! Medical Marijuana in Virginia is legal. Both medical and recreational use of weed is permitted. The first medical marijuana dispensary opened in August 2020, and a small amount of marijuana for adult recreational use became legal in July 2021. Full recreational, adult-use cannabis has been legalized but cannot be purchased until 2024.

All About Medical Marijuana in Virginia

The 2021 Virginia General Assembly established the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (“CCA” or “Authority”), recognizing it as the principal source of government expertise on cannabis and vesting it with broad authority to develop, issue, and enforce rules related to cannabis in Virginia. The 2021 legislation also empowered the CCA to undertake initiatives and promulgate regulations on various public safety and public health aspects of cannabis.

Consumption Forms

The allowed products may be in any formulation typically dispensed by pharmacies,

• Oils
• Tinctures
• Creams
• Gels
• Capsules
• Tablets
• Sprays
• Lozenges
• Troches
• Patches
• Suppositories
• Lollipops.

Note that the affirmative defense does not apply to flowers, food products, or preparations outside the allowed cannabinoid amounts. Virginia has now approved the sale of flowers for medical marijuana patients starting from July 1st, 2021.

Caregiving

Medical Marijuana Patients in Virginia Can Have a Caregiver. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a medical cannabis card in Virginia. Caregivers must also be 18 years of age.

• The parent/guardian residing at the same address as the patient should submit the parent/guardian application.
• When issued a written certification and to obtain board registration, submit the parent/guardian application to the Virginia board.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Cards in Virginia?

There are no specific medical conditions that “qualify” for a medical marijuana card in Virginia. It is completely up to the doctor whether or not they want to permit medical cannabis patients to use cannabis. So, we’ve listed some of the most common conditions treated with marijuana.

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Cachexia and wasting syndrome
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Chronic Pain
• Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Huntington’s Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Tourette’s Syndrome

Necessary Documents

Those wishing to register in Virginia’s medical cannabis program

• Must be a resident of the Commonwealth,
• Be at least 18 years of age,
• Have a condition that may benefit from the use of cannabis products, and
• Have a valid government-issued ID.

These are the necessary documents before starting your process:

• Your certification from the physician in PDF form
• Proof of residency (and proof of residency for a parent or legal guardian if applicable)
• ID (and ID for the parent or legal guardian if applicable)
• A government-issued ID Card
• Proof of age

Note: A valid Virginia Driver’s License can act as proof of residency and ID combined

Virginia Medical Marijuana Card Registration

Register and fix an appointment

The foremost step is to sign-up with a state-authorized medical healthcare expert in Virginia. For this, individuals need to fill out an online evaluation form. Once you fill out the form, submit it online.
Medical Evaluation

Once the form is uploaded, a video conferencing session between the patient and the healthcare expert will be held. In this phase, the doctor examines the medical condition of the patient. Besides, the medical records are also under evaluation by the doctor. If the medical practitioner is satisfied, they fill out a recommendation form.
Getting your medical marijuana card

Once the recommendation is received, individuals need to register with the state. Once the state approves, a notification will be sent to your registered email. With the approval, individuals also get a temporary medical marijuana card within 48 hours. Individuals can effectively use it until they receive a permanent medical marijuana card.

As of 2021, the state has loosened the registration process for patients. So, it is no longer a necessity to have a card, but a recommendation letter is the only way to purchase medical marijuana. It is the patient’s choice to apply for a card. However, it is best practice to hold a state-approved medical marijuana license than to face sudden consequences.

VA Medical Marijuana Laws

Even if you do obtain a doctor’s written permission to use cannabis oil in the state of Virginia, this does not mean you are legally allowed to possess cannabis. It simply means that if arrested on charges of marijuana, you may be offered protection or given an exemption from criminal prosecution.

• Possession – Patients may receive up to a 90-day supply per visit. Patients must have valid doctor’s certifications. For non-patients,
  more than four ounces but not more than one pound of marijuana – Class 3 misdemeanor
  more than one pound of marijuana – a felony punishable by imprisonment of 1-10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000, or both.
• Cultivation – Home cultivation became legal on July 1, 2021. Adults 21 and over may now grow up to 4 marijuana plants per household, for personal use. It remains illegal to grow more than four plants, to sell or distribute marijuana grown at home, or to manufacture marijuana concentrate from home-cultivated marijuana.
• Purchase – It is illegal to sell marijuana seeds, clones, flowers, or any other part of the marijuana plant in Virginia.
• Sale – On July 1, 2021, adult sharing or transferring one ounce or less of marijuana between persons who are 21 years or older without remuneration, became legal.
• Public Consumption – It remains illegal to consume marijuana or offer marijuana to another person in any public place.
• Driving – Use of marijuana while driving a motor vehicle or while being a passenger in a motor vehicle; possessing marijuana on school grounds, while operating a school bus, in a motor vehicle transporting passengers for hire, or in a commercial vehicle remains illegal.

Reciprocity

Virginia doesn’t recognize other states’ medical marijuana cards, certificates, or recommendations.