Thanks to a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1, the registration process for medical cannabis patients is now quicker and less of a burden.
Previously, if you were seeking approval, you had to get a written certification from a registered practitioner. And then register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to get a medical cannabis card.
The new legislation signed this year, House Bill 933, eliminates the need for the latter. You no longer have to receive approval from the Board of Pharmacy to buy medical cannabis. This also means you don’t need to pay the Board’s $50 registration fee.
This new change provides much needed relief for Virginia medical cannabis patients. They typically had to wait 60 days to receive approval!
The legislation also did the following:
With the new legislation in effect, this is what the process looks like to become a medical cannabis patient in Virginia:
To be approved for medical cannabis in Virginia, you must be a legal resident. Patients who are under 18 will also need a parent or guardian who is a registered caregiver.
Most states require patients to have specific qualifying conditions. Virginia is different, however. Medical providers may recommend medical cannabis or cannabinoid-based therapies for any condition they feel will benefit from these treatments.
As a medical patient in Virginia, you can possess up to a 90-day supply of cannabis products. This includes all types of products such as smokable flower, edibles, topicals, etc. Each containing up to 10 mg of THC per dose.
Within that 90-day supply, you can buy up to four ounces of botanical cannabis, or smokable flower, every 30 days. Patients who are 21 and older may cultivate a total of four cannabis plants per household.
If you think medical cannabis might be helpful for your condition, we’re here to help. Contact Canna Care Docs in Virginia today to schedule a consultation and we’ll walk you through the process. We’re happy to answer all your questions before you decide to take the next step.
Many millennials are replacing prescription medications with cannabis for sleep and mental health.
Millennials as Cannabis Consumers is a report from New Frontier Data that covers:
Here are a few key takeaways from the report.
Younger generations increasingly reported using medical cannabis for mental health reasons. For instance, only 16% of baby boomers reported using cannabis for mental health, compared with 29% of Gen Xers and 42% of millennials.
The trend continues with the younger generation. 61% of Gen Z users named mental health as a reason for using medical cannabis.
Older generations were more likely to use medical cannabis for physical pain. 70% of boomers reported using cannabis for pain, compared with:
By gender, more millennial women reported using cannabis for either reason. 48% of millennial women said they use cannabis for mental health, versus 35% of men. And 39% of women reported cannabis use for pain, versus 29% of men. Interestingly, the gender gap narrows with each older generation.
For information on using medical cannabis for mental health, check out these blog posts:
Most millennials have substituted either a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication with cannabis. 62% reported replacing at least one prescription medication with cannabis*, with 63% doing the same for an OTC medication.
Notably, millennials were more likely than any other generation to report substituting an OTC sleep aid for cannabis. This generation is most familiar with the two minor cannabinoids known for potential sleep benefits, CBN and THCP.
Learn more about CBN in our Introduction To Cannabinoids: Everything You Need To Know.
*Medical cannabis is intended to supplement (not replace) prescription medications. Speak with your doctor before using cannabis along with other medications.
When it comes to addressing marijuana use with the doctor, there’s a gender gap among millennials. 32% of men said they never talk about their cannabis use with a doctor, and 45% of women said the same.
Among men, 45% reported discussing the subject with a doctor “sometimes” or “often.” The same was true for 31% of millennial women.
States the report, “Those rates speak to the increased risk that women take admitting substance use in the context of their role as primary caregiver.” In other words, more women are taking care of children at home. They may be hesitant to admit they use cannabis while doing so.
Whether you’re a millennial, Gen-Xer, baby boomer — we don’t discriminate at Canna Care Docs.
Do you have a medical condition and qualify for medical cannabis in your state? Find the clinic nearest you and schedule an appointment. During your consultation, we’ll answer all your questions and help you apply for a medical marijuana card. It’s that simple!
(866) 846-2420
