Your card lasts one year
A West Virginia medical cannabis card is good for one year. When it expires, you can no longer buy at a dispensary until a renewed card is approved. Renewing on time is the easiest way to avoid a gap.
The Act also says a card ends earlier if your physician certified you for a shorter period. If your certification has an end date, that date is the one to watch.
The 60-day window
OMC asks you to submit your renewal no earlier than 60 days before your card expires. There is no penalty for using the whole window. A card renewed before it expires gets a new expiration date one year from the original expiration date, so filing on day 60 instead of day 5 costs you nothing.
Here is how the dates work out in practice:
| Card expires | Earliest day to file | New card expires |
|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | October 2, 2026 | December 1, 2027 |
| March 15, 2027 | January 14, 2027 | March 15, 2028 |
| July 4, 2027 | May 5, 2027 | July 4, 2028 |
If you are counting by hand, give yourself a day of slack. The portal will be the judge, not our math.
What renewal involves
- Book your annual visit with a physician registered with OMC. OMC's FAQ says this can be in person or online.
- Get your new Physician's Certification. You need a fresh one every year.
- Log in to the Complia portal and start a Patient Renewal application.
- Upload the new certification.
- Pay by ACH or by mail, following OMC's renewal guide.
Portal trouble goes to Complia support at [email protected] or (720) 259-8357. Program questions go to OMC at (304) 356-5090.
Book the physician early
The physician visit is the step most likely to slow you down, especially if the nearest registered office has a waiting list or is a long drive. Try to book it in the first couple of weeks of your window. That leaves room to file and still have the processing time behind you before the old card runs out.
If you saw a physician online last year, ask whether the same company handles renewal visits. Before you rebook, read our notes on online evaluations in WV, because the statute's wording on in-person consultation has not changed.
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 →Leave room for processing
OMC's registration checklist asks applicants to allow at least 30 days from the time OMC receives the application and payment before checking status. Filing early in the 60-day window is the simplest way to keep that 30 days from eating into your card's last weeks. If you pay by mailed check, add mailing time.
If your card already expired
We did not find OMC guidance specific to lapsed cards. Call OMC at (304) 356-5090 before you file and ask which application to use. Do not buy or carry medical cannabis on an expired card in the meantime.
Things that might have changed this year
A year is long enough for life to move. If you have a new address, a new physician or a new caregiver, deal with that as part of renewal rather than after. The full application guide lists the documents OMC expects, and the cost page covers fees and the hardship waiver.
Once your renewed card is approved, download it from the portal and delete the old one from your phone so you do not show a dispensary the wrong card. Then set next year's reminder for about 60 days before the new date.
Questions people ask
Do I lose days if I renew early?
No. OMC says a card renewed before it expires gets an expiration date one year from the original expiration date, not one year from the day you filed.
Can my renewal visit be online?
OMC's FAQ says to schedule the annual appointment with a registered physician in person or online. The statute still mentions an in-person consultation as part of continuing care, so ask the provider how they handle it.
Can I file more than 60 days early?
No. OMC asks patients to submit a renewal application no earlier than 60 days before the card expires.
Do I need to send new ID and residency proof?
OMC's renewal guide focuses on uploading the new Physician's Certification and paying. If anything else has changed, such as your address, check the portal prompts and OMC's guide before you submit.
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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.