How Can I Get Medical Marijuana in West Virginia?

Adult use of recreational cannabis remains illegal in the State of West Virginia. However, patients with specific health conditions and symptoms may be qualified to legally purchase, possess, and consume cannabis if they have a West Virginia medical marijuana card.

If you have one or more serious medical conditions, and different prescriptions or holistic therapies are not providing relief, you may decide to explore medical cannabis. Unlike walking into a dispensary alone, your cannabis healthcare provider will discuss your symptoms and provide suggestions and guidance.

A medical cannabis patient benefits from the support of a marijuana doctor. Someone who is specialized and experienced with patients who have achieved good results with medical marijuana. If you have thought about getting your West Virginia medical card, we’ve provided some steps to guide you.

Seven Steps to Getting a West Virginia Medical Marijuana Card

Before you can apply for your medical card with the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis, there are a few steps you need to take to become certified. Suppose you have a qualifying health condition and a medical history that passes safety review. In that case, you will get your medical card to purchase medical marijuana and use it legally within your state.

The medical marijuana application process is not hard. If you have a qualified medical condition, chances are you will be approved by a licensed medical marijuana doctor. And enjoy the freedom to explore medical cannabis as part of your treatment plan.

1. Learn More About Medical Cannabis and Your Symptoms

No one understands your symptoms better than you. But do you know if medical cannabis could actually help you manage your symptoms better? There is ample information on the DocMJ blog and other websites to help you learn more about how medical cannabis may work for certain health conditions.

Remember that medical cannabis is not a cure for any disease or disorder, but many people share that they benefit from using it when other types of treatments are not effective. In West Virginia, medical cannabis is an option for patients with a qualifying condition.

Major websites like Weedmaps are not always the best source for medical cannabis blogs, however, because they focus on recreational use. Look for medical articles to help make an informed choice.

2. Verify That You Have a Qualifying Condition for Medical Cannabis

What are qualifying health conditions? They vary depending on the state where you live, but they are a list of approved symptoms and health diagnoses that can make you eligible to get a West Virginia medical marijuana card.

Patients will need to provide medical records that show they have been diagnosed with one (or more) qualifying health conditions in order to apply for a medical cannabis card.

The current qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in West Virginia are:

• ​​Cancer.
• Position status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• Parkinson’s disease (PD).
• Multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity.
• Epilepsy.
• Neuropathies.
• Huntington’s disease.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Intractable seizures.
• Sickle cell anemia.
• Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain.
• Terminal illness that is defined as a medical prognosis of life expectancy of approximately one year or less if the illness runs its normal course.

The West Virginia medical marijuana program also allows for a designated caregiver to purchase and administer cannabis to patients in their care. This includes minors with debilitating health conditions or adult patients who receive daily support from the caregiver.

Caregivers must apply separately, be approved by the WV Office of Medical Cannabis, and prove that they are the legal guardian of the designated patient. The caregiver must also prove they are a West Virginia resident and provide a criminal history background check to be approved.

What if You Do Not Have a Qualifying Health Condition?

Unfortunately, suppose you have not been diagnosed with one of the state-approved qualifying health conditions for West Virginia medical marijuana. In that case, you will not be eligible to apply for or receive a medical card.

3. Schedule an Appointment With a Cannabis Healthcare Provider

Most primary care providers will not certify patients for medical cannabis. However, DocMJ provides practitioners who are licensed in West Virginia to offer this service to patients who want to apply for a medical card.

West Virginia permits telemedicine appointments. Once you schedule your appointment, you will receive a link by email for your private appointment with a qualified practitioner. You will meet with our friendly provider and review your symptom management goals, health history, and current prescription medications. Then, the provider will determine if cannabis is a safe option for you.

Why You Need to Provide Health Records Before Your Appointment

Before you meet with the cannabis healthcare provider, they will need to review your medical records to help them make a decision about certifying you for a medical card. The DocMJ health provider will be looking for proof of a formal diagnosis (required qualifying health condition) and other information, such as current prescription medications that may conflict with medical marijuana.

The DocMJ provider believes in your right to explore alternative health options. There is no judgment, and our providers are caring and compassionate toward patients. Our goal is to help you make an informed choice about whether medical cannabis is right for you.

What Should You Do If You Have No Formal Diagnosis?

If it has been several years since you were diagnosed with the qualifying condition, you should contact your primary care provider to update your medical records. This can be an additional letter from your doctor confirming that you still have the same diagnosis and symptoms.

Please note that if we have not received your medical records and information at least 48 hours prior to your appointment, it may be canceled, and you will have to reschedule. Cancellation fees may apply.

4. Meet With the Marijuana Doctor to Discuss Your Symptom Management Goals

When you get your video link by email, make sure to click it and arrive on time to meet with your West Virginia provider. You will find the DocMJ provider to be warm and friendly, ready to assist you with the next step to apply for your medical card.

Your appointment is a great opportunity to ask questions you may have about medical cannabis. Our provider can also suggest certain types of routes (intake methods) that may be easier to use and help you reach your symptom management goals.

5. Get an Answer About Becoming Certified by the Cannabis Practitioner

Patients will find out immediately if they have been certified for a West Virginia medical marijuana card from the DocMJ provider. If you are not eligible for a medical card in West Virginia, DocMJ provides a 100% money-back refund of all fees within five business days.

6. Complete the Application and Pay Your State Registration Fee

Once the cannabis healthcare provider has completed the appointment, patients who are approved will receive a Patient Certification Form. The next step is to gather the information you will need to complete your registration.

To submit your application for a medical card, you will need:

• A valid government-issued ID.
• Proof of state residency.
• A passport-quality photograph (for your medical card).
• The patient certification form (approval letter).

Next patients must visit the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis website to complete the application and upload the required documents. An application fee of $50 is payable at that time to the registration portal. There are financial hardship waivers available for low-income patients. Contact the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis for more information.

Patients will be notified by email within 30-60 days if they have been approved for a West Virginia medical marijuana card and a medical card is mailed to them. Once you have your medical card, you can visit any licensed cannabis dispensaries in West Virginia with a driver’s license to purchase products.

7. Find a Local Dispensary and Plan Your First Visit

The West Virginia medical marijuana laws allow patients to purchase medical cannabis, with quantities up to a thirty (30) day supply. This can include up to six (6) ounces of cannabis plant-derived products or 60 grams of extract.

The state tracks the sales of cannabis products to a private patient profile (METRC), and the amount cannot be exceeded. If you are over the amount permitted, state-licensed dispensaries will not sell products to you until the next 30-day limit is due.

Get Your Medical Marijuana Card in West Virginia

If you are interested in getting medical marijuana in West Virginia, you need to complete your cannabis health evaluation to apply for a medical card. Don’t worry, DocMJ makes it easy! Simply schedule an appointment with one of our medical marijuana doctors to get started.