This is How You Will Get a Medical Marijuana Card in VA

Becoming a Medical Marijuana Patient in Virginia

If you have been issued a written certification within the last 12 months, submit the online application for obtaining board registration. To assert the affirmative defense, an unexpired valid written certification issued from a board-registered physician and a current active patient registration issued by the Board of Pharmacy is necessary. The online registration application is accessible on the DHP Initial Applications site and may be renewed annually.

1. Patients must be issued a written certification by a Physician who is registered with and certified by Virginia’s Board of Pharmacy to recommend CBD or THC-A Oil.
   
   • The physician must maintain a current registration with the Board of Pharmacy.
2. Patients must provide proof of identity using either a state-issued identification card, an unexpired Driver’s License, or a valid Passport issued by the U.S. Government.
3. Patients must be a resident of Virginia and will need to provide proof of residency.
4. After receiving a recommendation from a Certified Physician, patients must then register with the Department of Health Professions.
   
   • The initial registration fee is $50 and the annual renewal fee is $50.
   • When registering as a minor patient, the legal parent or guardian of said minor must also be registered.
   • Detailed, step-by-step instructions on the registration process can be found
5. Applications will be processed by the Board of Pharmacy within 7-10 business days. Once processed and issued, registration cards will be mailed to the address provided on the application.

Virginia recently passed a law that narrowly approves medical marijuana use for some people, but the substance largely remains illegal. As more and more states as making marijuana legal in some form, it is important for people in Virginia to understand the laws and consequences of activity surrounding it. Currently, the state does not permit the use of marijuana in any form for nearly all people. Under Virginia law, possession of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor charge. People who are caught with the drug may face jail time. Further, an individual may suffer license suspension.

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, Virginia did pass a law earlier this year that gives some protection to people who use marijuana medicinally. HB 1445 provides a defense for people who fit the following requirements:

• They must have intractable epilepsy.
• The marijuana extract must have no more than 5 percent THC.
• The marijuana extract must have at least 15 percent of cannabidiol or THC-A.

It is important to point out that even when someone fits this description, he or she may still be arrested. Anyone who has questions about this matter should consult with an attorney.

Virginia Board of Pharmacy chose the five companies to be the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries. In a release issued by Virginia NORML, the five companies granted conditional licenses are:

1. PharmaCann Virginia (HSA I) – the largest vertically-integrated and unified medical cannabis company operating in highly regulated states, with six licenses in Illinois and five in New York.
2. Dalitso (HSA II) – a Virginia-based company with strong ties to the community.
3. Dharma Pharmaceuticals (HSA III) –  a Virginia-based company that plans to locate in the old Bristol Mall, currently owned by Par Ventures, a stakeholder in the company.
4. Green Leaf Medical of Virginia (HSA IV) – has been awarded a stage 2 license to cultivate medical cannabis in Maryland.
5. Columbia Care (HSA V) – operates dispensaries in Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Washington, D.C., California, Delaware, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida.

Registering as a Caregiver in VA

If parents and legal guardians of patients who are minors or incapacitated adults have been recently issued a written certification to possess CBD or THC-A oil pursuant to §18.2-250.1 for a minor or incapacitated adult or within the last 12 months, they will submit the online applications for both a patient and the parent/guardian in the following order:

1. The parent/guardian residing at the same address as the patient should first submit the patient registration application.

2. The parent/guardian residing at the same address as the patient should submit the parent/guardian application.

3. Any other parent/guardian who has also been issued a written certification and in need of obtaining board registration should submit the parent/guardian application to the board.

Each parent/guardian must obtain his or her own board registration.  The online registration application is accessible on the DHP Initial Applications site and may be renewed annually.

Accessing Medical Marijuana

Like many states, Virginia now has a formal medical marijuana card program. The Virginia Department of Health Professions and the Board of Pharmacy oversee the certification process.

Currently, a patient may only access a 90-day supply of THC-A or CBD oil for the treatment of epilepsy. Once they’ve been certified, patients will be able to access their recommended dosage from a pharmaceutical processor.