Virginia

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. Is a temporary or permanent resident of Virginia and is at least 18 years old;

2. Has a medical condition that a practitioner of medicine or osteopathy, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licensed by the VA Board of Medicine deems would benefit from treating with medical cannabis (Under HB 1251, a medical professional may recommend and certify for any condition). Patients may review the state’s participating practitioner list or contact the healthcare practitioner of their choice directly to determine whether that practitioner participates in Virginia’s medical cannabis program. Telemedicine using real-time interactive audio-visual technology is allowed for certification;

3.  Has a valid practitioner’s written certification and a government-issued ID (As of July 2022,  patients are no longer required to register with the state board to purchase medical cannabis); and 

4. Certification is up to date (renewed every year). 

Patients who meet these requirements must receive a written certification from a qualified healthcare practitioner before purchasing medical cannabis. A parent or legal guardian may be listed on a written certification for a minor or vulnerable adult and may purchase medical cannabis on the patient’s behalf. A patient, parent, or legal guardian may also designate a registered agent to purchase medical cannabis for the patient.

Written certifications are valid for one year unless the practitioner sets an earlier expiration date. After a certification is issued, the patient can access a digital “Validation of Written Certification.” To purchase medical cannabis, the patient must present this validation, along with a valid government-issued identification card, at one of Virginia’s state-designated cannabis dispensaries.

Although state registration is not required by law to purchase medical cannabis, patients may register with the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to obtain a state medical registration card. The state registration fee is $50 for a patient and $25 for a parent/legal guardian or registered agent.

When a practitioner issues a medical cannabis certification, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority Portal sends the patient two emails. The first email, “New Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) Portal Account,” confirms that a portal account has been created. The second email, “Written Certification for Medical Cannabis Issued,” provides the information needed to access the certification and also serves as confirmation of the portal account.

Patients should check their junk or spam folders if they do not see the “Written Certification for Medical Cannabis Issued” email. Once received, open the email and click the CCA Portal button to access the portal directly. Patients should save or write down their electronic certification number, which is listed in the “Written Certification” email.

 On the “Sign-in” page, enter your email address, then select “Sign In,” and then follow the instructions. If you need help, use the VA CCA help guide.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

In Virginia, minors under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian registered as their official caregiver to access medical cannabis. The parent or guardian must be listed on the practitioner's written certification or formally register with the state.  Minors cannot purchase cannabis products directly from a dispensary; this must be done entirely by the registered caregiver.

In Virginia, medical cannabis caregivers (known as "registered agents") is authorized to purchase or receive medical cannabis on behalf of a patient. They must be Virginia residents at least 18 years old. A patient, or the patient’s parent or legal guardian, may choose a registered agent to assist with accessing medical cannabis.

At the patient’s request, the certifying practitioner may include the name of the patient’s registered agent on the written certification for medical cannabis. If the registered agent is listed on the written certification, the agent does not need to register separately with the Cannabis Control Authority before purchasing or receiving medical cannabis on the patient’s behalf.

If the registered agent’s name is not listed on the patient’s written certification, the agent must register with the Cannabis Control Authority before purchasing or receiving medical cannabis for the patient. A registered agent may serve no more than two patients. The initial registration fee is $25, and the annual renewal fee is $25.

Possession limits: 

Patients and caregivers in Virginia are allowed to purchase up to 4 ounces of cannabis every 30 days and up to a 90-day supply of non-flower formulations.

Dispensaries: 

Once you have an electronic or printed copy of your valid written certification, you may purchase medical cannabis products from a licensed dispensary in Virginia.

Patients should bring their current government-issued identification. If Virginia residency is not shown on the ID, residency may be proven with another document, such as a utility bill or lease.

At the dispensary, staff will scan the QR code on the written certification to confirm that it is valid and add the patient’s information to the dispensary’s system.

Home Cultivation:

Adults 21 and older in Virginia are permitted to legally grow up to four plants at home for personal use.

It is illegal to consume cannabis in any public place. State law defines a public place as any location accessible to the public, including restaurants, parks, stores, streets, and other public areas.

Patients should use medical cannabis only in private settings where use is allowed and should be aware that property owners, landlords, employers, and healthcare facilities may have additional rules governing cannabis use on their premises.

Virginia has an adult-use cannabis program, but registering as a medical cannabis patient still offers important benefits. While the medical program may require additional steps, registration can provide patients and caregivers with added support, stronger protections, and access to medical guidance.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Access in Healthcare Settings

In 2026, Virginia passed HB 75 to allow hospital staff to store, dispense, and administer medical cannabis oils to certified patients. This helps support continuity of care for patients who rely on medical cannabis and may need access while receiving care in a hospital setting.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Virginia’s medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway alongside adult-use access.

Cannabis Expungement

Virginia has also taken steps to address past cannabis convictions. In 2021, SB 1406 allowed for the automatic expungement of certain misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions and limited public access to those records, including by prohibiting employers from asking about them. House Bill 2113, also enacted in 2021, established a process for carrying out the automatic expungements authorized under SB 1406.

The state of Virginia does not recognize Out-of-State patient registrations. For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.