On April 19, 2017, signed into law by Governor Jim Justice, the Medical Cannabis Act was passed allowing for cannabis to be used for certified medical use by a West Virginia resident with a serious medical condition and is limited by law to selected approved forms.
Patients
To become a medical cannabis patient, you must be diagnosed with a "serious medical condition" and be certified by a registered physician. After recieving a certfication, patients must register through the online application portal and submit an application and application fee ($50) to the Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC). Applications are then reviewed by the OMC within 30 days. Updates regarding the application status will be sent via email. If approved, patients will revisit the application portal and download their digital medical cannabis card. Applications that are rejected for corrections may be fixed and resubmitted to the OMC for review. For more information and resources: Click here
What is considered a “serious medical condition”?
- Cancer
- Position status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- 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
- 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
Approved Forms of Medical Cannabis
- Pill
- Oil
- Topical Forms, including gels, creams, and ointments.
- A form medically appropriate for administration by vaporization or nebulization (dry leaf or plant form)
- Tincture
- Liquid
- Dermal patch
Caregivers
A patient may designate up to two caregivers so that access to medical cannabis is easier. A caregiver may not act as a caregiver for more than five patients. For patients under the age of eighteen, a caregiver is required. A designated caregiver for a minor must be a parent or legal guardian, designated by a parent or legal guardian, or an individual approved by the bureau if no parent or legal guardian is avaliable.
A caregiver must:
- Be 21-years of age unless otherwise permitted by the bureau.
- Submit to fingerprinting and a background check.
- Submit application and fee to the OMC.
- After approval, possess a medical cannabis idenification card when in possession of medical cannabis.