The state fee is $50
A West Virginia medical cannabis card costs $50 in state fees. You pay it to the Office of Medical Cannabis when you submit your application in the online portal. That fee is the same whether you live in Charleston or at the end of a gravel road in a county with no stoplight.
The card lasts one year. Renewal also involves a payment through the portal, and you will need a new physician certification each year, so plan on the physician visit as a yearly cost too.
Every fee in one place
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Patient application | $50 | Paid to OMC by ACH or mailed check or money order |
| Hardship waiver | $0 if approved | Household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, with proof |
| Caregiver application | $50 | Can also be waived for financial hardship |
| Caregiver fingerprinting | Set by the vendor | Done through IdentoGO; OMC does not state the price |
| Replacement card | $25 | Lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible card, per the Act as passed in 2017 |
| Physician certification | Set by the physician | OMC does not publish visit prices |
Run your own numbers
Pick the state fee that applies to you and type in the price a physician quoted. The total is what your first year of access costs before you buy anything.
The $50 fee and the hardship waiver come from the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis; the physician visit price is set by whoever certifies you, and OMC does not publish it.
How the hardship waiver works
If your household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, OMC can waive the $50. You ask for it as part of your application and upload a copy of proof of income. OMC lists examples such as a W-2, recent pay stubs or proof that you are eligible for benefits.
Here is the part people miss: do not send a payment when you ask for the waiver. If OMC denies the request, it will contact you and ask for the fee. Sending both just muddies your file.
The same waiver is available on the caregiver fee.
Paying without a hitch
OMC takes ACH, or a check or money order by mail. Its current checklist says to make checks payable to WV Department of Health. Older forms that say WV DHHR are out of date. Payment apps such as Chime, Venmo and CashApp may not be used.
If you mail a check, remember that OMC's 30-day processing estimate starts when your payment arrives. The application walkthrough shows where payment fits.
The physician visit is the variable
OMC does not set or publish what physicians charge. Prices vary between in-person offices and telemedicine companies, and you should compare. When you call, ask three things: the full price, whether records review costs extra, and what the renewal visit will cost next year.
Drive time is a cost too. If the nearest registered physician is two counties over, an online visit may come out cheaper once you count gas and a day off work. Read how online evaluations in WV work, including the in-person question in the law, before you choose.
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 →What you will spend at the dispensary
Product prices are set by dispensaries, not the state. OMC's 2025 biennial report put the average price of a gram of flower at $7.14 in October 2025, and the monthly average stayed between $6.97 and $8.03 from November 2023 through October 2025.
Under the Act as amended in 2019, dispensaries pay a 10% tax on their gross receipts from patient sales. The law says they may not add it to your receipt as a separate line item, and medical cannabis is exempt from state sales and use tax. Our dispensary guide covers what you can buy.
Replacement cards
The Medical Cannabis Act as passed in 2017 sets a $25 fee to replace a card that is lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible, and says to apply within 10 business days of finding out. It also lets the state charge more for a second or later replacement. We could not read the current code directly, so check with OMC before you pay.
Paying for someone else
If a parent is applying for a child, or a spouse is helping a patient, budget for two fees: the patient's $50 and the caregiver's $50, plus fingerprinting. Both can be waived for hardship. The caregiver page lists what else the caregiver needs. When you are ready, set a calendar reminder for renewal so next year's cost does not catch you off guard.
Questions people ask
Is the $50 fee refundable if I am denied?
OMC's materials we reviewed do not say. Call OMC at (304) 356-5090 before you pay if this matters to you.
Does Medicaid or insurance pay for the card?
OMC does not mention insurance. The hardship waiver is the only official fee reduction, and it is based on household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, with proof such as a W-2, pay stubs or proof of benefit eligibility.
Is there a veterans discount on the state fee?
We found no veterans discount in OMC's materials or in the statute. The hardship waiver is the only official reduction.
How much is the physician visit?
OMC does not publish visit prices. Each physician or telemedicine company sets its own, so ask for the full price, and whether it covers next year's renewal visit, before you book.
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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.