Medical marijuana cards became optional for medical marijuana patients in Virginia, effective July 1, 2022. The passage of HB 933 eliminated the mandatory need for cannabis patients, parents, and legal guardians to register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy and obtain a medical marijuana card. However, cannabis patients who wish to renew their state-issued optional registration card must have a valid written certification for medical marijuana use. Patients must renew their medical cannabis certification as and when due to avoid losing legal access to medicinal marijuana in the Commonwealth. Virginia medical marijuana cards are renewed online. The Board of Pharmacy accepts inquiries on how to renew an expired medical marijuana card or a written certification for medical marijuana use in Virginia by email.
In Virginia, a marijuana patient or their parents/legal guardian must submit an online application to renew their medical marijuana card. When completing the application online, they must provide a copy of the written certification for the use of medical marijuana, the required renewal fee, ID, and proof of residency in Virginia.
It takes about 60 business days for the Commonwealth's Board of Pharmacy to process a medical marijuana card renewal application. Once approved, the Board will mail a physical cannabis registration card to the address on the application. However, since a medical marijuana card is optional in Virginia, a patient may continue to use their written certification for medical cannabis use at licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in the Commonwealth, pending the arrival of their card.
A Virginia medical cannabis registration card and a patient's written certification for medical marijuana use must be renewed every year. Both are only valid for one year after the issue date.
Yes. If a Virginia cannabis patient's written certification has expired, they must obtain an updated written certification for medical marijuana use from a registered practitioner to renew expired medical cannabis cards. A physician must recertify a cannabis patient once their current written certification expires to enable them to have continued access to medical marijuana legally at Virginia-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. Virginia maintains a list of registered practitioners for medical cannabis approved to recommend medical marijuana to qualifying patients.
In Virginia, only the following practitioners who are registered with the Board of Pharmacy can issue a written certification for medical marijuana use:
The cost of renewing a Virginia medical patient's marijuana card is $50, paid online during renewal. However, the patient's parent or legal guardian pays a $25 medical marijuana card renewal fee.
The Board of Pharmacy does not accept paper applications for Virginia medical marijuana card renewal. Patients and parents/legal guardians must initiate and conclude their medical cannabis card renewal process online via the Commonwealth-approved portal.
Virginia does not offer reciprocity for medical cannabis to other states. As such, out-of-state patients cannot use medical marijuana cards issued in their state of residence in Virginia or purchase medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary within the Commonwealth.