HOW TO GET
A West Virginia
Medical Cannabis Card
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis and W. Va. Code chapter 16A, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.
To get a West Virginia medical cannabis card, you first need a certification from a physician registered with the Office of Medical Cannabis who has you under continuing care for a serious medical condition. You then apply in the OMC portal with a photo, a photo ID and proof of residency. West Virginia charges $50 for each new or renewal application, and the OMC may waive it for financial hardship. Your card expires within one year of issuance.
West Virginia Issues a Digital Medical Cannabis Card
The Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC), part of the Bureau for Public Health in the West Virginia Department of Health, runs the program under the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act. When your application passes review, you download a digital card from the OMC portal, as the Patients page describes. Cards issued since December 2024 carry a QR code that law enforcement or employers can scan to check validity, and older cards stay valid (OMC card memo).
How to Find a Registered West Virginia Physician
Start with the OMC. Its Schedule an Appointment page links a list of registered physicians by county and a list of telehealth companies with West Virginia registered physicians. Physicians choose whether to be listed, so the public Physicians List shows only part of the 125 registered physicians on the OMC stat sheet for September 2026.
The Office of Medical Cannabis says appointments may be in-person or online, and the statute’s definition of continuing care includes an in-person consultation with the patient (W. Va. Code 16A-2-1(8)). State law also bars practitioners from advertising their services as able to certify patients for medical cannabis (W. Va. Code 16A-4-2(a)(3)).
West Virginia lets only a West Virginia-licensed physician registered with the Office of Medical Cannabis certify you, and only for a patient under that physician’s continuing care, which the law defines as including an in-person consultation (W. Va. Code 16A-2-1), so before you book anywhere, confirm the physician you will see is registered; the Office of Medical Cannabis appointment page links its list of registered physicians and telehealth companies.
| Fee | Amount | Term | Waiver or reduction | Who pays | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient card processing fee, new or renewal | $50 | Each application; the card expires within one year of issuance | The OMC may waive it for financial hardship (income below 200% of the federal poverty level, with proof) | Patient, to the West Virginia Department of Health | W. Va. Code 16A-5-1; OMC FAQ |
| Caregiver application fee | $50 | Each application; the caregiver card runs with the one-year term | May be waived or reduced for financial hardship | Caregiver | W. Va. Code 16A-5-2; OMC caregiver flyer |
| Caregiver fingerprint background check | Not stated by the OMC | At application | None stated | Caregiver, to the fingerprint vendor | OMC caregiver flyer |
| Patient update application (name, address, contact or condition) | No fee | Each update | Not needed | No one | OMC Application Roadmap |
The state processing fee is $50 for each new or renewal application; the Office of Medical Cannabis may waive it for financial hardship, which it describes as income below 200% of the federal poverty level, shown with proof such as a W-2, recent pay stubs or a benefits statement. Pay by ACH in the portal or by mailed check or money order payable to “West Virginia Department of Health”; payment apps are not accepted (Patient Registration page).
SEE A REGISTERED WEST VIRGINIA PHYSICIAN
A physician in the OMC registry must find that you have a serious medical condition, check the state prescription drug monitoring program, and have you under continuing care before issuing a certification (W. Va. Code 16A-4-3). The physician sends the certification to the OMC electronically, because the OMC no longer accepts paper copies (Application Roadmap).
APPLY THROUGH THE OMC PORTAL
Create a portal account from the OMC’s Patient Registration page and start a new patient registration. Upload a passport-style photo, an unexpired photo ID and proof of West Virginia residency, then pay the $50 fee by ACH or mailed check or money order, or ask for a hardship waiver. Payment apps such as Venmo or CashApp are not accepted (OMC FAQ).
DOWNLOAD AND USE YOUR CARD
The OMC says it reviews applications within 30 days and sends the result by email. If your application passes, you log back in to the portal and download your digital card. Show it at an OMC-permitted dispensary each time you buy, and remember that the card is valid only in West Virginia (registration checklist).
Qualifying Medical Conditions
Who May Certify West Virginia Patients
Only a West Virginia-licensed MD or DO may issue a certification. The physician must first finish a four-hour training course and be placed in the OMC’s physician registry (W. Va. Code 16A-4-1). Registry inclusion is subject to annual review, and the law gives nurse practitioners and physician assistants no route to certify. The certification must state that you are under the physician’s continuing care, and the physician must first educate you about cannabis, as W. Va. Code 16A-4-3(a)(7) requires.
What to Bring for a West Virginia Application
Who can get a West Virginia medical cannabis card?
West Virginia residents with a serious medical condition listed in state law can apply. The statute defines a patient as someone who has a serious medical condition, meets the certification rules and “Is a resident of this state.” There is no minimum age, but a patient under 18 must have a caregiver.
Can a minor get a West Virginia medical card?
Yes, a patient under 18 can apply but must have a caregiver: a parent or legal guardian, someone a parent or guardian designates, or a person the bureau accepts when no parent or guardian is available (W. Va. Code 16A-5-6). The OMC says the caregiver application must be ready before it can act on a minor patient’s application (Patients page).
What should I bring to my appointment and my state application?
- An unexpired photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport or state ID
- Proof of West Virginia residency, such as a utility bill, vehicle or voter registration, or lease agreement (OMC Application Roadmap); the WV DMV list gives more examples
- A clear, front-facing digital photo of your head and shoulders, with no hat, sunglasses or filter
- Medical records about your condition and past treatments, since the physician reviews past treatments (W. Va. Code 16A-4-3)
- A list of the medicines you take now
- Proof of income, such as a W-2, recent pay stubs or a benefits statement, only if you ask for the fee waiver
Records show the physician your past treatments, but they do not settle whether you receive a certification.
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