A West Virginia physician registered with the Office of Medical Cannabis can certify your serious medical condition — with clear answers for veterans about VA care.
West Virginia's medical cannabis program is run by the Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC). It's medical only — there's no adult-use market in the state.
A West Virginia physician registered with the OMC certifies your serious medical condition.
Upload ID and proof of West Virginia residency, then pay the $50 fee or request a hardship waiver.
The Office of Medical Cannabis reviews your application and approves your card.
Your digital card lasts one year; renew it with a new certification.
The VA follows its own national policy, VHA Directive 1315. Here's what it allows today — and what may change.
In May 2026, the U.S. House passed a VA spending bill with an amendment that would let VA clinicians complete state program forms. It still needs Senate approval and final passage — similar language has been dropped from final bills before. As of this writing, it isn't law.
What veterans do today: see a West Virginia physician registered with the OMC for certification, and keep your VA care exactly as it is.
Based on VHA Directive 1315 and congressional reporting as of 2026. General information only, not legal advice.
State application fee
Available for financial hardship
Card term, renewed annually
Supply limit at a time
From the Office of Medical Cannabis. The physician visit is separate, and VA benefits don't cover it.
Your physician must certify one of the conditions in the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act. Those highlighted are common among veterans.
Confirm current details with the Office of Medical Cannabis.
A medical dispensary in downtown St. Albans. Bring your West Virginia card and photo ID, and confirm hours before you go.
Every licensed dispensary in West Virginia is medical; see the Office of Medical Cannabis for the full list.
St. Albans sits where the Coal River joins the Kanawha — quiet water, river views, and room to breathe.
“My VA doctor and I talked it through, and it's in my chart. The certification came from an outside physician — my VA care didn't change.”
— Gary W., St. Albans“PTSD qualified me. I applied for the hardship waiver, and the state fee was waived.”
— Teresa L., NitroVA policy says participating in a state medical cannabis program isn't a reason to deny VA care or benefits.
Not as of this writing. A change is pending in Congress, but for now certification comes from a West Virginia physician registered with the OMC.
No. VA grounds are federal property, so leave it at home.
Recreational sales and delivery aren't legal in West Virginia. Buy only from licensed medical dispensaries listed by the OMC.
On the Office of Medical Cannabis website.
St. Albans sits in western Kanawha County where the Coal River meets the Kanawha, a short drive from the state capital. It's a close-knit community with deep ties to service, and many residents rely on VA care. St. Albans residents follow the same statewide rules as every patient in West Virginia's medical cannabis program.
West Virginia's program was created by the Medical Cannabis Act (Senate Bill 386) in 2017, with dispensary sales beginning in 2021. Adult-use cannabis is not legal in West Virginia.
Public use is prohibited and driving impaired is illegal. Federally, state-licensed medical cannabis moved to Schedule III in 2026, but it remains a controlled substance. See the Office of Medical Cannabis for current rules.
Appointments with West Virginia physicians registered with the OMC.