The Latest on Virginia’s Marijuana Laws and Program

While adult-use marijuana has been legal since 2021, there is currently no legal way to buy it without a medical marijuana card. This legal gray area leaves many residents confused about how to safely and legally access marijuana in the Commonwealth.

Here’s the latest on Virginia’s marijuana program, why medical marijuana remains the only reliable path, and how upcoming political changes could finally bring retail access, or further delays.

Marijuana Is Legal, But You Can’t Buy It Without a Medical Card

Many Virginians are surprised to learn that although it’s legal to possess marijuana, they can’t walk into a store to buy it. The only way to access legal marijuana products in Virginia right now is by obtaining a medical marijuana card.

Currently, 23 licensed dispensaries operate across the state under Virginia’s medical marijuana program. These dispensaries are regulated by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) and are available exclusively to patients who qualify and are approved by a registered practitioner - that’s where we come in!

Why You Need a Medical Marijuana Card in Virginia

Here’s why a medical marijuana card is not just helpful, it’s necessary in Virginia:

• Only cardholders can shop at licensed dispensaries.

• Medical marijuana products are state-regulated, lab-tested, and safe.

• Without a card, you're forced to rely on illegal sources, which come with legal risks and product safety concerns.

• Possession laws do not equal purchase rights. Just because you can legally hold marijuana doesn’t mean you can legally buy it without going through the proper channels.

Medical marijuana patients also benefit from physician guidance and access to specific strains and products formulated for medical use.

Where You Can Get Certified

All medical marijuana evaluations through our service are conducted via telemedicine appointments, so you can get certified from the comfort and privacy of your own home, no in-person visit required.

Our licensed medical professionals are available to evaluate your qualifying condition and provide a recommendation if appropriate. The process is simple, confidential, and designed to help you get the relief you need, safely and legally.

Once approved, you’ll receive your recommendation and instructions on how to complete your registration with the state to receive your official medical marijuana card. Our patient support team will be there to help you every step of the way, even when it comes to submitting your application to the state.

Don’t wait! Schedule your online consultation today and take the first step toward natural relief.

What Conditions Qualify?

While any symptom or condition may qualify for medical marijuana in Virginia, this is a list 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

In Virginia, practitioners can also certify patients for any condition they believe may benefit from marijuana treatment, giving patients more options than many other states.

Dispensary Access Is Uneven Across the State

While some areas like Northern Virginia and Richmond are well served by licensed dispensaries, many rural regions still lack access. For example, Health Service Area 1, covering Charlottesville, Shenandoah, and surrounding areas, still has no licensed medical dispensary.

This has created challenges for patients who must travel up to two hours to legally obtain their medicine. Some residents are turning to neighboring states like Maryland or D.C., but that introduces legal complications, as Virginia cards are not accepted everywhere.

Governor Youngkin Blocks Adult-Use Marijuana Sales Again

The state’s inability to open recreational dispensaries isn’t for lack of trying. In 2024, Virginia lawmakers passed bills to establish a regulated retail marijuana market, but Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed them.

Youngkin cited concerns about youth access, public safety, and the black market. In his veto message, he wrote:

“Attempting to rectify the error of decriminalizing marijuana by establishing a safe and regulated marketplace is an unachievable goal.” His actions have halted progress on retail sales, despite bipartisan efforts and growing public support.

Voters Will Decide the Future of Marijuana in Virginia

Youngkin’s term ends soon, and the 2025 gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a defining moment for marijuana policy in Virginia.

• Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, currently lieutenant governor, opposes recreational sales and has echoed Youngkin’s hardline stance.

• Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former U.S. Representative, supports legalizing marijuana sales and building a formal market to benefit communities.

Medical Marijuana Deliveries Now Limited

In another blow to patients, Governor Youngkin also vetoed a bill that would have protected and expanded delivery services for medical marijuana patients. Under new regulations, deliveries are now restricted to a patient’s residence only, making it harder for those with limited mobility or non-traditional schedules to receive their medicine.

Prior to this, Virginia allowed deliveries to workplaces and other secure locations. The change strips away a layer of convenience and accessibility that patients had relied on since 2020.

Summary

Virginia’s marijuana laws are stuck in a strange in-between. Recreational marijuana is legal to possess but not to buy, and efforts to open dispensaries for adult-use have been vetoed. The only safe, legal, and consistent way to access marijuana in Virginia is through the state’s medical marijuana program.

With more dispensaries expected to open and the 2025 election potentially reshaping marijuana policy, now is the time to act. If you suffer from a qualifying condition, get your medical marijuana card today. It’s the only way to ensure you have access to regulated, legal marijuana, and it positions you for smooth access should the market expand in the future.

Get Your Medical Marijuana Card Today

Lucky for you, medical marijuana is already available in Virginia! You can get your medical marijuana card and access dispensaries today if you have a qualifying condition.

Recreational marijuana is legal in Virginia, but it does not mean much since there are no recreational dispensaries to purchase products from.

There are also countless benefits to having your medical card in a recreational state! You will save money on taxes and marijuana products, and you will enjoy higher possession and purchase limits if you have your medical card in Virginia!

In order to qualify for your medical marijuana card, you will need to have a condition that makes you eligible. If you aren’t sure if you would qualify, give us a call and we can answer any questions you may have about the process.

If you don’t already have your card, no worries. We can help! If you think you could benefit from medical marijuana, there is a good chance you would qualify for your medical card in the State of Virginia. With telemedicine, it is now easier than ever to get your medical card from the comfort of your own home!

In Virginia, any inhibiting condition could qualify you for your medical card. If you don’t already have it, we can help! Schedule an evaluation online today and we’ll make an appointment for you with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate doctors.

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Doctors Who Care.

Relief You Can Trust.

At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness

safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on

education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by

providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.

Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!