Does Virginia have a recreational use program?

Yes, recreational use is legal in Virginia.

Virginia made it legal for adults to use marijuana when HB 2312 and SB 1406 were passed by the lawmakers in 2021. Gov. Ralph Northam signed the bill into law on April 21, 2021.

Virginia approved marijuana for recreational use in 2021, but sales weren’t supposed to start until January 1, 2024. The Cannabis Control Authority was created to control the growing, selling, dealing, and use of marijuana in Virginia. By 2023, the authority should have made its rules public. However, these rules are still not in place at the start of 2024.

Does Virginia have a medical program?

Yes, medical cannabis is legal in Virginia. 

What are the rules for medical use?

The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (VCCA) will take over the Commonwealth of Virginia’s medical cannabis program on January 1, 2024. They will do this by replacing the state’s Board of Pharmacy.

Online applications for Virginia medical marijuana cards are easy and quick for patients, parents, or legal guardians who qualify. Medical marijuana patients who qualify can have medical evaluations with qualified medical professionals through telemedicine consultations.

Only Virginia residents can get medical cannabis. For minors to get medical cannabis, they need to be approved by their parents or legal guardians and have the provider’s certification. They must get a medical marijuana certificate from a licensed medical professional in their state.

What are the qualifying medical conditions for eligibility?

The exact list of medical conditions that qualify for the Virginia medical cannabis program has been removed after recent changes. Section 54.1-3408.3 of the Code of Virginia says that qualified medical professionals can now give a medical certification to any patient who has been diagnosed with a disease that the doctor thinks can be helped by cannabis.

As of January 1, 2024, Virginia lets doctors use their professional opinion to decide which conditions are severe enough to need medical cannabis treatments.

What are the medical program limits?

Patients who are registered for medical marijuana and have a medical cannabis card or written approval from the state of Virginia can buy up to 4 ounces of marijuana flowers every 30 days.

What methods of use are permitted under the medical program?

There are no clear medical rules available.

Is there home delivery for medical cannabis?

In Virginia, you can only deliver medical marijuana. You can have medical marijuana oils and flowers sent right to your door if you are a registered patient of legal age or an authorized caretaker.

Is CBD legal in Virginia?

Yes, CBD is legal in Virginia. Virginia allows CBD oil made from hemp that has no more than 0.3% THC.

CBD oils made from marijuana are against the law in Virginia. However, the state lets people who are registered in the medical cannabis program buy CBD oils that come from marijuana.

Is cannabis decriminalized in Virginia?

In Virginia, the legal limit for cannabis possession is up to 1 ounce, and exceeding this amount, particularly possessing more than one pound in public, constitutes a felony offense.

For possession of one ounce to four ounces of marijuana in public, it is considered a civil violation, resulting in a $25 fine without any jail sentence. Possessing between four ounces and one pound for a first offense is a misdemeanor, with a $500 fine.

Repeat offenses in the four ounces to one-pound range also incur misdemeanor charges. For a second or subsequent offense, the perpetrator faces up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Possession of more than one pound of marijuana in public is categorized as a felony, carrying a maximum fine of $250,000 and a jail sentence ranging from one to ten years.