Make sure you can apply
To get a West Virginia medical cannabis card, you need to be a West Virginia resident with one of the 15 serious medical conditions named in the Medical Cannabis Act. If you are not sure about your diagnosis, check our list of qualifying conditions before you spend money on an appointment.
There is no minimum age. Patients under 18 need a caregiver, and that caregiver must be a parent or legal guardian. The caregiver's application has to be created and ready before OMC can approve the minor, so if this is for your child, start both at once. Our caregiver guide has the details.
Step 1: Get certified by a registered physician
Everything starts with a physician's certification. In West Virginia only a doctor of allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) medicine who is fully licensed in the state can certify you. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners cannot, no matter how well they know you.
The physician also has to be registered with the Office of Medical Cannabis. To register, a physician applies online, completes a required four-hour course, and shows they are qualified to treat the conditions on the list. So your family doctor may be an MD and still not be able to certify you.
OMC publishes a registered physician list sorted by county. It also lists out-of-state registered physicians and telehealth companies. If the closest name in your county is a long way off, read about online evaluations in WV first. OMC lists telemedicine companies, but the law's definition of continuing care mentions an in-person consultation, so ask the provider how they handle it.
Bring records to the visit. The law says your condition must be diagnosed as part of your continuing care, and you must be under the certifying physician's continuing care. Notes from your regular doctor, test results and a medication list make that conversation much easier.
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 →Step 2: Collect your documents
Gather these before you open the portal. It is easier to upload in one sitting than to stop halfway and hunt for a utility bill.
- A photo ID: a driver's license, passport or state ID.
- A passport-quality digital photo of yourself.
- Proof of West Virginia residency from the DMV's list of acceptable residency documents.
- Your physician's certification.
- Proof of income, only if you are asking for the hardship fee waiver.
The DMV list is what counts. OMC's caregiver instructions give examples such as a West Virginia driver's license or state ID showing your current address, a utility bill, or a voter registration card.
Step 3: Apply in the Complia portal
OMC's application portal is at wv-public.mycomplia.com. A company called Complia runs it for the state. Create an account with an email address you check, fill in the patient application, and upload your documents.
If the site gives you trouble, Complia's technical support is at [email protected] or (720) 259-8357. Questions about the program itself go to OMC at (304) 356-5090.
Step 4: Pay the $50 fee
The patient application fee is $50. You can pay by ACH, or mail a check or money order. OMC's current checklist says to make checks payable to WV Department of Health. Some older OMC forms still say WV DHHR, so go by the current checklist.
OMC's FAQ is clear that payment apps such as Chime, Venmo and CashApp may not be used.
If your household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, you can ask for a fee waiver instead. Upload proof of income, such as a W-2, recent pay stubs or proof of benefit eligibility, and do not send a payment. If OMC turns the waiver down, it will ask you for the fee. The cost page has the full fee table.
Step 5: Wait, then download your card
OMC asks you to allow at least 30 days from the day it receives both your application and your payment before you check on your status. If you mail a check, the clock starts when it arrives, not when you drop it in the box.
Once you are approved, you download a digital card from the portal. Keep it handy. You need your card any time you have medical cannabis with you.
Mistakes that cost people weeks
- Getting a certification from a PA or nurse practitioner. It will not be accepted.
- Seeing an MD or DO who is not on OMC's registered list.
- Trying to pay with a payment app.
- Sending a payment along with a fee waiver request.
- Uploading a casual snapshot instead of a passport-quality photo.
- Using a residency document that is not on the DMV list.
- Filing a minor's application before the parent's caregiver application is ready.
After your card arrives
Your first stop is a dispensary. Look one up on the official list and call ahead about hours and stock; our dispensary guide covers what to expect on a first visit. Then put a reminder in your phone for about two months before the card expires, because you will need a new certification every year. The renewal guide explains the 60-day window.
Questions people ask
Do I apply first or see the physician first?
See the physician first. The application in OMC's portal asks for the physician's certification, so there is nothing to submit until you have it.
Who do I call if the portal will not work?
The portal is run by Complia. OMC's renewal guide lists Complia technical support at [email protected] and (720) 259-8357. For program questions, OMC's number is (304) 356-5090.
Who do I make the check out to?
OMC's current Registration Checklist says to make checks payable to WV Department of Health. Some older OMC forms still say WV DHHR; go by the current checklist.
Can I apply if I just moved to West Virginia?
You must be a West Virginia resident and prove it with a document from the DMV's list of accepted residency proofs. If you do not have one yet, get that sorted before you apply.
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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.