A Virginia medical marijuana card is a personal identification card that shows the patient qualifies for medical marijuana and can purchase products at dispensaries.
As of July 1, 2022, medical cannabis patients, parents and legal guardians are no longer required to register with the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (VCCA). A written certification for the use of medical marijuana from a registered practitioner for medical marijuana is still required and must be presented at the dispensary, along with a government-issued ID, to obtain medical cannabis products. Showing proof of registration with the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (VCCA) is no longer required.
Patients who choose to register with the CCA will receive a digital registered patient card in addition to their "Validation of Written Certification".
To become a Virginia medical cannabis program patient, you must:
Be a Virginia resident
Have a condition that may benefit from the use of cannabis products
Have a valid government-issued form of identification
Patients are eligible for a medical marijuana card once they have received a written certification from a medical practitioner who has determined the patient has a condition or a disease that would benefit from the use of medical marijuana. Click here for more information on becoming a medical cannabis patient.
To obtain your medical marijuana card in Virginia, you must be diagnosed by a licensed Virginia physician with a medical condition that the physician deems can benefit from medical marijuana treatment. Our staff at Virginia Marijuana Card is here to simplify the process, connecting you with a certified marijuana doctor online and providing you with your card!
A Virginia medical marijuana certification shows that you have been evaluated and approved for marijuana use by a licensed Virginia physician or other healthcare practitioner.
Although it has been legalized, recreational marijuana is still not available to purchase from Virginia dispensaries. Having a marijuana card is the only way to get legal access to medical marijuana until recreational dispensaries become available.
With a Virginia marijuana card, you can:
1. Buy marijuana from cannabis dispensaries in the State of Virginia
2. Possess quantities of marijuana and marijuana products above the limits on adult-use marijuana in Virginia
3. Consume marijuana and marijuana products in Virginia
We can’t guarantee medical marijuana approval for anyone, as the cannabis doctor is the only person that makes the determination whether or not a patient qualifies. To make it more likely that you receive approval for treatment, we recommend you bring as much information as possible to your appointment regarding your medical condition and past treatments.
Some marijuana doctors charge an exorbitant amount of money just for an initial examination. We strongly feel that if you qualify for medical marijuana, you shouldn't have trouble accessing it due to cost.
We do our best to work with patients to make Virginia marijuana cards affordable and accessible for everyone. If money is a concern for you, please call our patient support representatives at (888) 633-5808 to see if we can offer a medical marijuana evaluation discount..
When your certification expires, the legal protection offered by the Virginia Medical Marijuana Act is expired. You may still submit your renewal application without having to go through the new patient process, but you cannot shop at Virginia medical marijuana dispensaries until you get an up to date certification.
To be protected under the Virginia Medical Marijuana Act, your marijuana must be labeled from one of the Virginia cannabis dispensaries. Learn more about buying medical marijuana in Virginia.
For a detailed look at where to find your nearest dispensary, visit our dispensary location master list.
If there is no medical cannabis dispensary near you, check with the closest one to see if you live in a medical marijuana home delivery zone. Most Virginia residents can order medical marijuana products online and have them delivered!
Since marijuana is not federally legal, insurance will not cover the cost of the card or product.
Qualified patients under 18 years of age cannot purchase medical marijuana from a dispensary. The legal guardian or parent is required to apply as a registered agent to buy medical marijuana for a minor.
The parent or legal guardian must be listed on the written certification completed by the qualified medical practitioner. If not listed on the written certification, the parent or legal guardian must register with the CCA to receive medical cannabis on behalf of the patient.
A registered agent may serve no more than two registered patients.
In July, 2021, a new Virginia law took effect prohibiting most employers from taking adverse action against an employee for testing positive for THC when they have a medical marijuana card. Patients cannot be fired or written up for using products that contain THC when they are off the clock.
Your employer is still obligated to prevent you from coming to work impaired, however, and having a Virginia marijuana card does not give you a license to get high at work.
Individual workplaces and employers may still prohibit cannabis use by their employees and enforce drug testing policies that identify cannabis users. Jobs involving public safety or the operation of vehicles and/or heavy machinery often exclude individuals who test positive for THC. Virginia law protects some medicinal uses of cannabis against employment action, but this protection may not apply to all medical cannabis users.
Cannabis use can also impact workers’ compensation claims. If a cannabis user is in a workplace accident, the employer may require a drug test. Testing positive for THC may affect the workers’ compensation process, even if an individual is not intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Limited home cultivation is legal in Virginia. If you’re 21 years or older, you can grow up to four cannabis plants per household (not per person) for personal use.
Before starting the home cultivation process, talk with those who live in your house and conduct your own research on home cultivation to make sure you are prepared to grow cannabis legally, safely, and responsibly. If you rent, keep in mind landlords are allowed to develop and enforce their own policies restricting or prohibiting home cultivation.
The privacy of our patients is our top priority. We go through great lengths to ensure that all patient information is protected and kept confidential. We will also never share any of your contact information with any third party.
Some patients wonder what the consequences are of getting a medical marijuana card in Virginia, due to long held stigmas surrounding cannabis. Marijuana has become recognized by many as a legitimate medicine, so for most patients, consequences are more related to personal beliefs.
Patients living with conditions or symptoms that could benefit from natural relief have plenty of good reasons to get a medical marijuana card today. Give us a call at (888) 633-5808 to get all your questions answered, or schedule an appointment with a medical marijuana doctor online now!
THC is the compound in cannabis that results in psychoactive effects, or the ‘high’ feeling patients may experience. While some patients enjoy the heady feeling, others prefer the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the cognitive side effects.
CBD, on the other hand, does not elicit the psychoactive effects produced by THC. This is why CBD’s legality has been adopted more broadly across the United States. While the majority of CBD oils or products will contain small traces of THC, it is usually below 0.3%, and patients will not experience a ‘high.’
Learn more about the differences between THC and CBD here!
Want some helpful tips for new marijuana users? Click here!
Topicals are cannabis-infused products that are absorbed through the skin for localized pain relief, from soreness to inflammation. Topicals are ideal for patients who want the therapeutic benefits of cannabis without experiencing the psychoactive effects associated with other methods. These products can be used to treat a variety of conditions and relieve joint pain, relax muscles and much more. Learn more about topicals and how they work!
To learn more about the different marijuana consumption methods, click here!
A certification for medical cannabis from a medical practitioner is valid for one year unless the medical practitioner designates an earlier expiration on the written certification.
Other states or jurisdictions may honor Virginia patient credentials to purchase medical cannabis products within their licensed dispensaries. Each jurisdiction establishes its own regulations regarding visitor purchase allowances. Review the requirements of the jurisdiction you are planning to visit.
It is illegal to consume cannabis in any public place. Virginia code specifies a public place is anywhere the public has access, including but not limited to restaurants, parks, stores, and streets.
Using cannabis products in public places in Virginia is illegal. Virginia code defines public places as anywhere the public has access, including but not limited to restaurants, parks, stores, and streets.
Air travel – It is illegal under federal law to fly with cannabis products that contain more than 0.3% THC. If TSA officers discover cannabis during security screening, TSA is required to report law violations to local, state, or federal authorities. Flying with cannabis products over international borders is also illegal and falls under the jurisdiction of Customs and Border Protection.
Car travel – It is illegal to use or consume cannabis or cannabis products while driving or being a passenger in a motor vehicle on a public highway in Virginia. It is also illegal to have an open container of cannabis in the passenger area of a vehicle. It is illegal under federal law to transport any cannabis across any state or territory lines.
Mail - It is illegal under federal law to mail or receive by mail cannabis products that contain more than 0.3% THC. The United States Postal Service is subject to federal law. A person is liable to face consequences in both the state in which the package is received and the state from which the package was mailed. Private mailing companies also prohibit the mailing of cannabis.
Cannabis use can impact firearm ownership. To purchase a firearm from a federally licensed dealer, you must complete Form 4473 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), which requires the person completing the form certify they are not a user of any Schedule I drugs, including cannabis. This also applies to medical cannabis users.
Concealed carry permits also require this certification. Firearm owners are prohibited from selling ammunition or firearms to any person they know or “have reasonable cause to believe” uses cannabis.
While medical cannabis is legal in the Commonwealth, military members or veterans using military benefits may still face repercussions from the military for using cannabis. This is true even though cannabis products may often be prescribed for PTSD, a condition that disproportionately impacts veterans and active service members.
While federal legislation has been proposed to address this issue, Congress has not yet passed such legislation and active-duty military and veterans should research this issue before choosing to use medical cannabis or other cannabis.
Using or growing cannabis or being employed or otherwise involved in the cannabis industry can have significant repercussions for noncitizens, even when the activity is legal under state law. Green card applications, permanent visas, and other methods of obtaining United States citizenship or residency can be denied due to cannabis use or cannabis-related employment.
Consumption of cannabis or involvement in the cannabis industry can also result in a noncitizen resident of the United States being denied re-entry after visiting another country. Noncitizens should consult with an attorney before using cannabis or working in the cannabis industry.