Replacing a lost, stolen or damaged West Virginia medical card
Under the Medical Cannabis Act as passed in 2017, replacing a lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible West Virginia card costs $25, and you are supposed to apply within 10 business days of discovering the problem. We took both figures from the 2017 text because the current code could not be read directly. We found no later change to that section, but confirm both with the Office of Medical Cannabis before you pay.
What the 2017 text says
Section 16A-5-1 of the Act, as enacted in 2017, covers four situations: a card that is lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible. In each case the cardholder applies for a replacement within 10 business days of finding out and pays a $25 fee. The same section lets the state charge a higher fee for a second or later replacement, so a card lost twice may cost more the second time. Our fee table shows the $25 next to every other charge in the program.
We did not find a step-by-step replacement guide in the OMC materials we reviewed. Call OMC at (304) 356-5090 and ask how it wants the request made, what it costs today, and how to pay.
Your card lives in the portal
OMC issues approved patients a digital card, downloaded from the Complia portal. That changes what "lost" usually means. If your phone broke or you deleted the file, log in to the portal first and see whether the card is still there to download. We found no OMC guidance on whether a fresh download counts as a replacement, so if the card is not available, call OMC before paying anything.
A printed copy that is torn or faded works the same way. Check the portal for the original file before you request a new card.
If you cannot log in at all, that is a portal problem rather than a card problem. Complia's technical support is at [email protected] or (720) 259-8357.
Why the days matter
West Virginia law requires you to carry your card whenever you have medical cannabis with you, and a dispensary cannot sell to you without a valid OMC identification card. A missing card therefore stops both buying and carrying. Until you have it back, do not shop, and leave any product you already have at home in its original dispensary package.
The 10 days in the 2017 text are business days, counted from when you discover the problem. Write that date down the day you notice, so you are not guessing later.
If the card was stolen
The 2017 text treats a stolen card the same way as a lost one for the fee and the deadline. If your phone or wallet was taken with the card on it, change your Complia password as well, since the portal holds your application and documents. We found nothing in OMC's materials about a police report for a stolen card; ask OMC whether it needs anything beyond the replacement request.
Paying the fee
For the application fee, OMC accepts ACH or a mailed check or money order, and its FAQ says payment apps such as Chime, Venmo and CashApp may not be used. Ask whether the same methods apply to a replacement. The current checklist says checks go to WV Department of Health; older forms that say WV DHHR are out of date.
OMC describes its financial hardship waiver for the application fee. We did not find whether it also covers a replacement fee, so raise that on the same call. Our fee waiver guide explains who qualifies.
When renewal is close anyway
If your card expires within 60 days, you are already inside the renewal window. Renewal needs a new physician certification and a Patient Renewal application in the portal, and the renewed card runs one year from the original expiration date. Ask OMC whether to replace the old card or simply renew. The renewal guide has example dates.
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 →Caregiver cards
A caregiver holds a separate card. We found no replacement rule written only for caregiver cards in the material we reviewed, so a caregiver who loses one should call OMC the same way. Until it is sorted out, the caregiver should not pick up medicine for the patient. If the patient named a second caregiver, that person can cover. The caregiver page explains how a patient names up to two.
What to do today
- Write down the date you noticed the card was missing or damaged.
- Log in to the Complia portal and check whether the digital card can be downloaded again.
- If not, call OMC at (304) 356-5090 and ask how to request a replacement, the current fee and how to pay.
- Do not buy or carry medical cannabis until you have a valid card again.
The patient rules cover storage and carrying while you wait, and our FAQ page answers the other questions people run into after they are approved.
Questions people ask
How much does a replacement WV medical card cost?
The Medical Cannabis Act as passed in 2017 sets a $25 fee for a lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible card and lets the state charge more for later replacements. Confirm the current fee with OMC at (304) 356-5090.
How soon do I have to ask for a replacement?
The 2017 text says to apply within 10 business days of discovering that the card is lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible.
Can I buy at a dispensary while I wait?
No. Dispensing requires a valid OMC identification card, and you must carry your card whenever you have medical cannabis with you.
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Sources
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.