Pain is the usual reason
Across West Virginia, severe chronic or intractable pain is the most common condition among medical cannabis patients. OMC's 2025 biennial report counted 21,910 active patients with it out of 35,394 in October 2025. In a region with a long history of hard physical work, that probably will not surprise you.
Pain has to be severe and chronic, or intractable, to fit the law's wording, and the certifying physician makes that call. Read the qualifying conditions list to see all 15, including pain of neuropathic origin.
Work and the card
Mining and other heavy work raise questions a card does not answer by itself. The Medical Cannabis Act as passed in 2017 bars a patient from working at heights or in confined spaces, including mining, while under the influence of medical cannabis. It lets employers bar patients from safety-sensitive tasks while under the influence. The same 2017 text says an employer may not fire or refuse to hire you solely for being certified. We could not read the current code directly, so check it before you rely on any of this. Our employment page goes through it in detail.
Finding a physician in Raleigh County
OMC's registered physician list is organized by county. Look under Raleigh, then neighboring counties such as Fayette, Wyoming and Summers. The physician must be an MD or DO fully licensed in West Virginia and registered with OMC. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners cannot certify.
If you live out in the county and the nearest registered office is a long drive, an online visit may be easier. OMC lists telemedicine companies and says visits can be online; the law itself still refers to in-person consultation as part of continuing care, so ask the provider how they handle it. See our page on online evaluations in WV.
Rather not drive to an appointment?
Online evaluations are available for West Virginia residents. Before you pay, ask how the physicians handle the in-person part of continuing care that the state law mentions. Code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off.
Book my evaluation →Applying from Beckley
Once certified, apply in OMC's Complia portal. Upload a photo ID, a passport-quality digital photo and proof of residency from the DMV's accepted list. The fee is $50 by ACH or mailed check or money order. Payment apps are not accepted. If household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, ask for the waiver and send no payment. Allow at least 30 days after OMC receives your application and payment.
The drive to the dispensary
Use OMC's dispensary list to find licensed stores by county. We do not name them. Call ahead about hours and stock before you make the trip, especially on mountain roads in winter.
Driving is the other half. OMC says patients are not exempt from state or federal impaired-driving laws. The Act as passed in 2017 sets a limit of 3 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood in serum for driving or operating heavy machinery; check the current code. If you have medicated, let someone else drive.
Nearby guides
North on the interstate, the Charleston guide covers Kanawha County. Farther west, the Huntington guide covers Cabell and Wayne. In Beckley, the first step is the Raleigh County section of the physician list.
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This page explains West Virginia rules in plain language and is not medical or legal advice; the Office of Medical Cannabis and your certifying physician have the final word.