Talk with a licensed Virginia practitioner by video. If medical cannabis is right for you, your written certification is issued digitally — and that's what licensed dispensaries ask for.
Virginia has simplified its program. There's no separate registration to wait on once you're certified.
Choose a time with a Virginia-licensed practitioner who issues medical cannabis certifications.
If it's appropriate for you, it's issued through the state's CCA Portal and sent to you digitally.
Show the certification and a government-issued ID at any licensed Virginia medical dispensary.
Virginia has passed a law creating adult-use retail stores, but sales can't begin until July 1, 2027. Until then, the medical program is the only legal way to buy at a licensed dispensary.
Virginia lets four kinds of licensed clinicians issue a written certification.
Doctors of medicine licensed by the Board of Medicine
Doctors of osteopathy licensed by the Board of Medicine
Licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine
Jointly licensed by the Boards of Nursing and Medicine
Virginia doesn't publish a list of qualifying conditions. Instead, your practitioner decides whether you have a condition or disease that may benefit from cannabis.
These are some of the concerns patients often bring to a visit. None guarantees a certification — the decision is always your practitioner's.
I have arthritis in both knees and didn't want to drive to Richmond for an appointment. The video visit took twenty minutes, and the certification was on my phone that afternoon.
— Beverly H., LynchburgThe nurse practitioner asked about the medications I'd already tried for sleep before deciding. It felt like a real appointment.
— Jordan K., BoonsboroNo. Virginia no longer requires patient registration. A valid written certification plus a government-issued ID is what a licensed dispensary checks.
Practitioners now issue certifications through the Cannabis Control Authority's CCA Portal. You can view it digitally, and the dispensary scans its QR code.
Yes, as a permanent or temporary resident. If your ID doesn't show a Virginia address, a document such as a utility bill or lease can prove residency.
Your practitioner sets the length, up to a maximum of one year. After that, you'll need a new evaluation.
Yes. Your practitioner can add a registered agent to your certification. For minors, a parent or legal guardian is listed on the certification.
Adults 21+ can possess limited amounts, but retail stores can't open until July 1, 2027. Until then, only certified patients can buy from licensed dispensaries. See the Cannabis Control Authority for official details.
A licensed medical dispensary operates right here in the city, so certified Lynchburg patients don't need to travel far. Check its current hours and menu before visiting.
A shaded, mostly flat trail system through the middle of the city — a good option for gentle movement if you're managing chronic pain.
Lynchburg grew from John Lynch's ferry crossing on the James River and was formally established as a town in 1786. Its hilly layout gave it the nickname "City of Seven Hills," and today it anchors Central Virginia's healthcare, college, and trail networks. Lynchburg residents follow the same statewide medical cannabis process as all Virginians.
Section 54.1-3408.3 of the Code of Virginia allows licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to issue written certifications. Since 2024, the program has been overseen by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, which now issues certifications digitally through its portal.
Until retail sales begin on July 1, 2027, a written certification is the only legal route to buying from a licensed dispensary. After that, the medical program will continue for patients who need it. Follow the Cannabis Control Authority for updates.
Telehealth appointments with Virginia-licensed practitioners.
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