Virginia Marijuana Laws
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority and Va. Code 4.1-1601, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Medically reviewed by Benjamin Krasne, M.D., Virginia medical license 0101273922. Last reviewed November 4, 2026.
In short, Virginia allows medical cannabis for any diagnosed condition your practitioner finds may benefit, with a written certification. Under Va. Code 4.1-1601, the certifying visit may use real-time audio and video. Patients do not have to register or pay a card fee. Adults 21 and older may carry up to 2 oz outside the home; retail sales start July 1, 2027.
Is Medical Cannabis Legal in Virginia?
Yes. Medical cannabis is legal in Virginia for any diagnosed condition a practitioner finds may benefit, with a valid written certification from a licensed medical marijuana doctor. Adults 21 and older may also possess up to 2 oz of marijuana and grow up to 4 plants per household, but retail sales do not begin until July 1, 2027.
When Did Virginia Legalize Medical Cannabis?
Virginia built its medical marijuana program in steps between 2015 and 2024.
In 2015, the state gave patients with intractable epilepsy a legal defense for using CBD or THC-A oil, and in 2017 it licensed processors to make it. In 2018, the program was expanded to any diagnosed condition a practitioner finds would benefit from cannabis, still with the Board of Pharmacy as regulator.
In 2021, the General Assembly let processors sell botanical cannabis and barred employers from firing or disciplining workers for lawful, certified use of cannabis oil. In 2022 the patient registration requirement ended, and on January 1, 2024 oversight of the program moved from the Board of Pharmacy to the Cannabis Control Authority (CCA).
Who Is Eligible For Obtaining Medical Cannabis In Virginia?
In Virginia, permanent or temporary residents 18 or older, or minors with a parent’s consent, who hold a written certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant or jointly licensed nurse practitioner are eligible to obtain medical cannabis.
Driving With Marijuana
It is against the law to drive while under the influence of marijuana, as it can impair driving ability. Additionally, the driver and passengers may not use marijuana while the vehicle is on a public highway, and an open container in the passenger area can count as evidence of use.
Can I Have Medical Marijuana in My Car?
Yes. If transporting cannabis, keep it properly sealed in a container, preferably in the trunk or the back of the last upright seat position of the vehicle, to keep it out of reach of the driver. Under Va. Code § 4.1-1107 those areas are not part of the passenger area, and using marijuana in a vehicle on a public highway is a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Adult Sharing Of Marijuana
Under Va. Code § 4.1-1101.1, adults who are 21 years old and above may share up to one ounce of marijuana with other adults, as long as nothing is paid or traded for it. This sharing rule is repealed effective July 1, 2027.
Can I Grow My Own Cannabis?
Yes. In Virginia, individuals 21 or older may grow up to 4 marijuana plants for personal use at their main residence, and no household may have more than 4. Here are the guidelines you’ll need to follow:
- The cultivation of marijuana plants outside of one’s primary place of residence is prohibited.
- Marijuana plants should not be visible to the public, and precautions should be taken to prevent unauthorized access by people under the age of 21.
- Each plant must carry a tag with the grower’s name, driver’s license or ID number and a note that it is for personal use.
Growing more than 4 but no more than 10 plants brings a $250 civil penalty for a first offense, and penalties rise from there. Missing tags, visible plants or plants left open to anyone under 21 carry a civil penalty of up to $25.
Where Can I Legally Buy Cannabis In Virginia?
You can only purchase medical marijuana from a state-licensed dispensary. Until regulated retail sales begin on July 1, 2027, an adult without a written certification has no licensed place to buy marijuana.
Can I Use Cannabis In Public?
No, it is illegal to use cannabis in public in Virginia, even if you have a valid written certification. Virginia law bars consuming marijuana in any public place, such as streets and parks (Va. Code § 4.1-1108), and using it while driving or riding in a motor vehicle on a public highway (§ 4.1-1107). A first public-use offense carries a civil penalty of up to $25, rising to $250 on July 1, 2027. You may use it in a private residence, but the owner, including a landlord, can forbid it.
Can I Be Fired For Being A Medical Marijuana Patient?
Not for lawful use of cannabis oil. Virginia protected certified patients at work by enacting HB 1862 on March 25, 2021. The law, now Va. Code § 40.1-27.4, took effect July 1, 2021 and bars employers from firing, disciplining or discriminating against an employee for lawful use of cannabis oil under a written certification. The protection covers lawful use of cannabis oil, not adult recreational use, and employers may still take action against an employee who is impaired at work or possesses cannabis during work hours, and they may follow federal law. Employers in the defense industrial base may refuse workers above set THC test levels.
Do I Have To Tell My Landlord I Am A Medical Cannabis Patient?
The CCA FAQ does not say patients must tell a landlord. It does say a landlord can ban cannabis possession, use or growing in the lease, and a no-smoking clause covers smoking cannabis, so a breach can lead to eviction. Read your lease and ask about your landlord’s policies before using medical marijuana on their property.
How Can I Register As A Medical Cannabis Patient In Virginia?
You do not have to register with the state: the registration requirement ended July 1, 2022, and the CCA now runs the program. You need a valid written certification from a licensed practitioner, usually issued through the CCA Portal.
Is A Registration Card Optional In Virginia?
Virginia does not require a registration card. Patients and their parents or legal guardians obtain medical cannabis products without registering with the state. A valid written certification from a licensed practitioner and a government-issued ID are what a licensed dispensary in Virginia checks. The CCA FAQ says registration “is only available for the purpose of adding a registered agent” whom the practitioner did not name on the certification.
Does Virginia Allow Reciprocity?
Virginia does not accept medical marijuana cards from other states, so an out-of-state card cannot be used to buy medical cannabis in Virginia.
To buy medical cannabis in Virginia, you need a written certification from a Virginia-licensed practitioner, which our Virginia medical cannabis certification guide explains.
However, a person living in Virginia temporarily may get a Virginia written certification and buy at a licensed dispensary with proof of temporary residence, such as a lease. There is no separate approval step with the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, which replaced the Board of Pharmacy as regulator in 2024.
What Type Of Products Are Allowed In VA?
You can obtain:
- Up to 4 ounces of botanical cannabis for each 30-day period
- Cannabis oil and registered, tested cannabis products from a state-permitted Virginia pharmaceutical processor, generally limited to 10 milligrams of THC per dose, including:
-
- Edible cannabis products
- Inhalable cannabis products
- Topical cannabis products
How Much Medical Cannabis Can I Have?
Dispensaries may sell a patient no more than a 90-day supply of cannabis products in any 90-day period.
Can A Minor Be A Medical Cannabis Patient?
Yes. A parent or legal guardian named on the minor’s written certification obtains the medical cannabis for them.
Sources, checked October 20, 2026: Code of Virginia § 4.1-1600 (definitions), § 4.1-1100 (possession), § 4.1-1101 (home growing), § 4.1-1101.1 (adult sharing), § 4.1-1107 (vehicles), § 4.1-1108 (public use), § 4.1-1601(A) and (B) (certification, telehealth and term), § 4.1-1603 (dispensing) and § 40.1-27.4 (employment); the Cannabis Control Authority FAQ and Patients and Caregivers page; HB 933 (2022) (end of the registration requirement); the CCA retail sales notice; and the Board of Pharmacy transfer notice.
Virginia City Guides
