Looking on how to get a medical marijuanas card in VA? Get a consultation and register with the help of our professional medical marijuana doctors in VA.
As more U.S. states continue to legalize cannabis, more patients are realizing they could potentially benefit from holding a medical marijuana card in Virginia. But how do you get medical cannabis or a medical cannabis card in Virginia if you’ve never had a prescription?
Virginia’s medical marijuana cannabis program is ‘up and coming.’ The state requires recommendations from licensed marijuana doctors before registering, meaning you’ll need to schedule an appointment first. Fortunately, medical marijuana doctors in VA like those at CannabisRxHealth are ready to write recommendations for issues cannabinoids may help address.
For Virginia patients interested in experiencing the benefits of medical cannabis, relief starts here. For more information, keep reading as we explore what it takes to get an MMJ card in VA.
Is Medical Cannabis in Virginia Legal?
Historically speaking, patients used to have to take advantage of an “affirmative defense” to ‘legally’ possess their herbal medicine. Governor McAuliffe had signed a medical exemption for prescribed cannabis oils into effect in 2015. However, while this created an affirmative defense to possess the oils for medicinal purposes, it was only for cases of severe epilepsy until March 2018.
Governor Northam signed HB1251 after it was unanimously passed, effectively expanding the affirmative defense to make it legal for patients with any diagnosed condition to possess medical cannabis oils in Virginia. However, a valid certification is still a requirement.
Currently, the symptoms for any condition or disease that a patient could use THC-A or CBD to treat can warrant a written certification from a licensed medical marijuana doctor. The provisions are outlined in 18.2-250.1 and 54.1-3408.3, ensuring patients can use THC-A or CBD once they receive their written certification.
Information on the Virginia Medical Marijuana Program
Virginia’s Board of Pharmacy permits registration only once a patient receives written certification from one of their licensed doctors, Physician Assistants, or Nurse Practitioners. This certification should recommend either CBD or THC-A oil for the patient’s condition.
These professionals decide whether a patient can get a medical prescription for cannabis in Virginia on a case-by-case basis. Patients looking for a comprehensive evaluation from a state-licensed and registered doctor must make an appointment.
Schedule a medical consultation with one of our licensed doctors to get card-certified before you register. Once you receive your Virginia medical marijuana card, you can bring it to a dispensary and purchase your medicine hassle-free.
Registering for the Medical Marijuana Program in Virginia
Once you receive your recommendation from one of our certified doctors, you’ll have the certification you need to register. We can then help you register, making the entire process as simple as possible so you can receive your medical marijuana card va.
After you receive your written certification, you have 12 months to submit the online application to register with the Board of Pharmacy. This is an essential part of the application process and can be done on the DHP Initial Applications site. Let’s explore the steps to register for your card.
Documents You’ll Need Before Registering with the Board of Pharmacy
Please note that to complete your registration for your MMJ card, you’ll need to provide proof of identity. This requires either an identification card or a valid Driver’s License issued by the state of Virginia. Patients have the option to show a valid Passport issued by the U.S. Government, as well.
You’ll also need to be a Virginia resident, and you’ll need to show proof of residency. Whether this is a utility bill, lease agreement, payroll check stub, or original bank statement, you’ll need to prove you live here to register for medical cannabis in Virginia.
Steps to Register with The Board of Pharmacy
If the following steps seem a bit overwhelming, don’t worry; we’ll help you every step of the way.
First, you’ll need to create a username and password and link it to your records. You’ll search for our existing personal records here.
To find your records, you’ll need to enter your Last Name and Social Security Number (SSN) in the required fields. You’ll have to contact your licensing board if you don’t have an SSN.
After you press the Search button, you can search for your records. Once you find your records, you can complete your login creation by filling in the required fields and pressing the Register button to create your account.
Once you’re done registering, you can log in here.
Now that you’ve logged in, you’ll notice the Welcome screen. Choose Initial Application using the left menu. Now you can apply for your license.
Choose Pharmaceutical Processing from the Profession dropdown and choose which type of license you’d like from the License Type dropdown.
In the Obtained By dropdown, select Initial Application. Then press the Start Application button to move on to the next step.
To complete the registration process, you’ll need to pay the $50 fee. Once you pay, you can scan and email, fax, or mail the necessary documentation to the board. This is the final step in the application process.
You’ll need to send the following to the board:
A copy of your marijuana certification issued by a board-registered practitioner;
Either your proof of residency as the patient or the proof of residency of a parent or legal guardian;
Qualifying patient’s proof of identity or proof of identity of the parent or legal guardian (copy of government-issued ID card);
Birth certificate or other government-issued ID showing proof of qualifying patient’s age.
Here is the information for the Board of Pharmacy:
Virginia Board of Pharmacy Perimeter Center
9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300 Henrico, VA 23233-1463
Fax: (804) 527-4472 Email: pharmbd@dhp.virginia.gov
Once you receive your recommendation and submit your application with the Board of Pharmacy, you should receive your registration card between 7 and 10 days. After the card is issued, it’s mailed to the address on the record that you have listed on your application.
Need help getting started? Choosing CannabisRxHealth as your medical consultants for your medical marijuana card doctor consultations makes getting an MMJ card as easy as 1, 2, 3. Contact us for an appointment, get evaluated and card-certified, and take your card to the dispensary.
