Pharmaceutical Processors - Medical Cannabis
Board of Pharmacy Registration No Longer Required for Practitioners Eligible to Provide a Written Certification for the Use of Medical Cannabis
Effective July 1, 2023, HB1896/SB1337 removed the requirement for a practitioner of medicine or osteopathy, or a physician assistant, licensed by the Board of Medicine, or a nurse practitioner jointly licensed by the Board of Medicine and the Board of Nursing to register with the Board of Pharmacy prior to issuing a written certification for medical cannabis to a patient for treatment or to alleviate the symptoms of any diagnosed condition or disease determined by the practitioner to benefit from such use.
Registration Cards No Longer Required
Effective July 1, 2022, HB933 removed the requirement for patients, parents, and legal guardians to register with the Board of Pharmacy. A Written Certification for the Use of Medical Cannabis from a Practitioner for Medical Cannabis is still required and must be presented at the dispensary, along with a government-issued ID, to obtain medical cannabis products.
Optional Registration Card
While the law no longer requires a patient, parent, or legal guardian to obtain registration from the Board as of July 1, 2022, an optional registration card for medical cannabis may be obtained for $50.
The online registration application is accessible here: https://patients.va.biotr.ac/.
Questions may be directed to cbd@dhp.virginia.gov
Medical Cannabis Access for Patients, Parent/Legal Guardians, and Registered Agents
A patient, parent or legal guardian may possess medical cannabis, as defined in §54.1-3408.3 of the Code of Virginia who has been issued a valid written certification from a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner eligible to issue such certification.
A registered agent, appointed by the patient, parent or legal guardian, must register with the Board of Pharmacy prior to obtaining medical cannabis for the patient unless the individual’s name is listed on the patient’s written certification. An individual may, on the basis of medical need and in the discretion of the patient’s practitioner, be listed on the patient’s written certification upon the patient’s request. .
A patient, parent or legal guardian must have a written certification issued to them by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner eligible to do so prior to obtaining medical cannabis from a permitted dispensary. If desired, a patient, parent or legal guardian may register with the Board of Pharmacy to obtain an optional physical medical cannabis card. Learn More about Patient/Parent/Guardian Registration.
A patient, or the patient’s parent or legal guardian, may choose a registered agent to receive medical cannabis on behalf of the patient. Learn More about Registered Agent Registration.
Request for Application
September 9, 2022 Update - Frequently Asked Questions
The Board of Pharmacy has issued the following Request for Application (RFA) to solicit applications for a permit to operate a pharmaceutical processor in Health Service Area (HSA) I. As authorized in law, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy (Board) may award conditional approval for only one pharmaceutical processor in this health service area. In order to be considered for selection, an Applicant must submit a complete Application for a Pharmaceutical Processor Permit for HSA I with required documentation and application fee in accordance with this RFA no later than December 4, 2020 at 2:00p.m. EST. Please review the RFA for specific application requirements.
Notice to RFA applicants July 6, 2023
Medical Cannabis Dispensing Locations
Pharmaceutical Processor and Medical Cannabis Dispensing Facility Locations
A pharmaceutical processor is a facility that has obtained a permit from the Board of Pharmacy pursuant to §54.1-3408.3 to cultivate Cannabis plants for the production of medical cannabis, and dispense medical cannabis products to patients that have received a written certification from a practitioner for treatment or to alleviate the symptoms of any diagnosed condition or disease determined by the practitioner to benefit from such use. As set forth in §54.1-3442.6 of the Code of Virginia, the Board may issue or renew a maximum of 5 permits, one for each health service area established by the Board of Health. Currently, 4 pharmaceutical processors have been permitted, Dharma Pharmaceuticals, LLC in Abingdon, Columbia Care Eastern Virginia, LLC in Portsmouth, Green Leaf Medical of Virginia, Inc. in Richmond and Dalitso, LLC in Mananssas.
Additionally, the Board may issue or renew a maximum of 5 permits for cannabis dispensing facilities in each health service area. The cannabis dispensing facility must be owned in part by the pharmaceutical processor permitted in that area.