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HOW TO GET
A Virginia Medical
Marijuana Certification

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. Last reviewed October 20, 2026.

Who can certify you for Virginia medical cannabis? A Virginia-licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse. Under Va. Code 4.1-1601, the visit may be by telemedicine over real-time audio and video. Virginia requires no card fee from patients, a certification lasts up to one year, and our Virginia video evaluation costs $179.

Virginia medical cannabis facts (official sources checked October 8 to 20, 2026)
Regulator	Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), which took over the program on January 1, 2024
Who may certify	A Virginia-licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse jointly licensed by the Boards of Medicine and Nursing
State fee and certification term	No patient registration or state card fee required; a written certification is valid up to 1 year
Renewal rule	The certification expires one year after it is issued, or earlier if the practitioner sets an earlier date; only one practitioner may certify you at a time
Purchase limit	No more than 4 ounces of botanical cannabis dispensed for each 30-day period, and no more than a 90-day supply in any 90-day period
Telehealth rule	Telemedicine is allowed over real-time audio and video (Va. Code 4.1-1601)
Reciprocity	None: licensed Virginia dispensaries cannot accept out-of-state medical cards
Dispensary status	24 dispensaries on the CCA list as of October 15, 2026

Hand holding a card with a cannabis leaf

Virginia has no list of qualifying conditions.

Who Can Certify You for Medical Cannabis in Virginia?

What people call a Virginia medical marijuana card is a written certification from a Virginia-licensed physician, physician assistant or jointly licensed nurse practitioner, and patients do not have to pay a state fee.

Practitioners who certify must have enough education and training to judge each patient, under Va. Code § 4.1-1601.

How do I get certified for medical cannabis in Virginia? No state application is required: patients have not had to register since July 1, 2022, and what you show at a dispensary is the written certification from your practitioner, printed or on your phone.

The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority has run the program since January 1, 2024, when it took over from the Board of Pharmacy. Virginia leaves the evaluation to the practitioner’s professional judgment, so ask which records to bring to your visit.

If your practitioner finds cannabis may help, you receive a written certification on the CCA form, valid for up to one year.

Doctor writing notes beside medical marijuana bottles

THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A VIRGINIA WRITTEN CERTIFICATION:

See one of the qualified Virginia Marijuana Doctors licensed in the state, in person or by live video, for your written certification.

Virginia requires no patient registration; what you need is a written certification from a Virginia-licensed practitioner, seen in person or by live video. Once a practitioner finds your condition may benefit from cannabis, the certification is issued through the CCA Portal. Only a valid written certification lets you buy at a Virginia dispensary; adults 21 and older may possess up to 2 oz without one. Certifications expire after one year at most, so plan your renewal visit.

CERTIFICATION BY A
LICENSED VIRGINIA PRACTITIONER

Are you looking for a medical cannabis doctor in Virginia? Any physician, osteopath, physician assistant or jointly licensed nurse practitioner licensed in Virginia may certify patients, using an account in the CCA Portal.

A certification by telehealth is allowed only over real-time audio and video, under Va. Code § 4.1-1601.

Laptop icon with a medical cross and a person

JOIN VIRGINIA’S MEDICAL
MARIJUANA PROGRAM

Joining takes no state paperwork, because Virginia does not require patients to enroll; the dispensary scans the QR code on your certification instead. You still need a written certification from a licensed practitioner and a government-issued ID at the dispensary.

BUYING WITH YOUR VIRGINIA
WRITTEN CERTIFICATION

Once a Virginia medical cannabis doctor certifies you, you can visit a licensed dispensary to purchase medical cannabis. Bring a government-issued ID and your certification, printed or on your phone, for the QR code scan. With your written certification you can buy cannabis products and use them in private, never in public.

Medical cannabis jars and buds beside a physician writing notes

Qualifying Medical Conditions

Virginia sets no list of qualifying conditions: a practitioner may certify any diagnosed condition or disease they find would benefit from cannabis products, which makes you eligible for a written certification.

Certification By Live Video Is Allowed In Virginia

How Virginia
Marijuana Doctors Certify Patients

Virginia Certifications Last Up To One Year

Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Program Requirements

Requirements

What are the residency and age requirements?

Permanent or temporary Virginia residents 18 or older with a diagnosed condition that may benefit from cannabis are eligible for a written certification in Virginia. Minor patients can be certified for medical cannabis use in Virginia with a parent or legal guardian’s consent, and that parent or guardian is named on the certification.

Does Virginia have a qualifying conditions list?

No condition list applies in Virginia: your practitioner decides whether your diagnosed condition may benefit, under Va. Code § 4.1-1601, before you can get a written certification.

What documents do I need to buy at a Virginia dispensary?

Patients and parents or legal guardians do not have to register with the CCA; the CCA Portal can show the written certification as a digital certification card. To buy at a dispensary you need

A valid written certification, digital or printed
A current government-issued ID
Proof of Virginia residency, such as a lease, if your ID does not show it
Your registered agent’s details on the certification or a CCA registration, if someone buys for you

General

I have a qualifying condition. Does it make me automatically qualified for Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Program?

No. Having a condition does not by itself let you buy medical cannabis in Virginia. You must first obtain a written certification from a Virginia-licensed physician, physician assistant or jointly licensed nurse practitioner.

Where do I find a Virginia Medical Marijuana Doctor?

The CCA’s Participating Practitioner List shows practitioners who chose to be listed, and any Virginia-licensed MD, DO, PA or jointly licensed nurse practitioner may certify. For questions about this page, you can reach Dr. Green Relief by phone at 800-420-8423 or by filling out one of our contact forms.

Can I grow my own marijuana in Virginia?

Yes. Any adult 21 or older may grow up to 4 marijuana plants at their main residence, with no more than 4 per household, whether or not they hold a certification. If you’re growing your own marijuana you’ll need to

Ensure that no marijuana plant is visible from a public way
Take precautions to prevent unauthorized access by people under the age of 21
Attach a legible tag to each marijuana plant with your name, driver’s license or identification number, and a notation that the marijuana plant is being grown for personal use.

You cannot sell home-grown marijuana, and a household may not keep more than 4 plants.

Does insurance cover medical cannabis?

Ask your insurer. Before you pay, check whether your health plan covers any part of the visit for your written certification or the products you buy from a Virginia pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility.

Written Certification

What Do You Need to Buy Medical Cannabis in Virginia?

To buy medical marijuana from Virginia dispensaries you’ll need a government-issued ID and a written certification from a Virginia medical marijuana doctor.

The patient registration requirement ended on July 1, 2022, so at the counter you’ll need

Your written certification, from the CCA Portal or on paper
Photo ID issued by a government agency
A lease or utility bill if your ID lacks a Virginia address
Registered agent details, if someone else picks up for you

How long is a Virginia written certification valid?

A Virginia written certification is valid for up to one year, or less if the practitioner sets an earlier date.

Can I buy medical cannabis in Virginia without registering with the state?

Yes. Virginia requires no patient registration or state card fee; the CCA Portal can show your written certification as a digital certification card, and a dispensary checks that certification and a government-issued ID.

Who pays a state registration fee in Virginia?

Patients do not have to pay a registration or card fee; a registered agent not named on the certification pays $25 to register and $25 a year to renew. Note that this does not include your consultation cost with a medical marijuana practitioner.

Can I buy medical cannabis before my Virginia written certification is issued?

No. In Virginia, you can buy medical cannabis products only after a practitioner issues your written certification, though adults 21 and older may legally possess up to 2 oz of marijuana.

If I get a Virginia written certification, who would know about it?

Information from your certification is confidential under Va. Code § 4.1-1601 and exempt from public records requests. Access is limited to listed purposes, such as your care, your dispensary, your registered agent and a specific law enforcement investigation.

Getting Certified

Why should I get a Virginia written certification?

Only a patient with a valid written certification, the patient’s registered agent, or the parent or legal guardian of a minor or vulnerable adult patient may buy tested cannabis products at Virginia’s licensed dispensaries.

Are there state fees for a Virginia medical cannabis certification?

Virginia requires no state fees from patients, because patients do not have to register. Please keep in mind that your consultation with a medical marijuana practitioner has its own cost.

Can a minor get a Virginia medical cannabis certification?

Yes. Minor patients can get certified with the consent of a parent or a legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian is listed on the written certification, and botanical cannabis for a minor must be specifically authorized.

How soon can I use my Virginia written certification?

No patient application is needed, so there is nothing to wait for: once your practitioner issues the certification, you can use it at a dispensary.

Caregivers

Laws

Dispensaries

Are there dispensaries in Virginia?

Yes. As of October 2026, the CCA lists 24 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Virginia, in five regions; see them here.

Where do I purchase medical marijuana once I have my written certification?

You can only buy cannabis products from a licensed Virginia dispensary, which state law also allows to deliver to your home.

Can anyone use medical cannabis in the state?

No. Medical cannabis products are for certified patients who live in Virginia, permanently or temporarily. Other adults 21 or older may use marijuana only in private, never in public.

How much medical marijuana can I purchase at once?

You can purchase up to 4 ounces of cannabis flower every 30 days.

Reciprocity

Appointments

Dr. Green Relief offers Virginia telehealth evaluations by live video at $179 through the Book Online button at the top of this page, or you can leave your contact details here.
This form does not book a visit or schedule a certification.

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