West Virginia Medical Marijuana Card: Requirements, Steps & Renewal

Documents needed to apply for a West Virginia medical cannabis card

You’ll need to provide the following to apply for a medical cannabis card in West Virginia:

Patient Certification You will receive your Patient Certification once approved by a Kif Doctors provider. In West Virginia, your certifying physician submits a copy of the certification directly to the Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC).

Proof of Identity West Virginia driver’s license, West Virginia State ID, or other government-issued photo identification.

Proof of Residency Only West Virginia residents qualify. Acceptable documents include a WV utility bill dated within 60 days, a tax record with a WV address, a WV mortgage document, a WV bank statement, or a voter registration card.

Next steps after approval

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification!

In West Virginia, you apply online through the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Portal (Complia), then mail your application fee to the OMC. Here’s a guide on exactly what you need to do next!

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

Kif Doctors Patient Certification

• Your certifying physician submits this to the OMC; keep your copy and Application ID for reference

Digital photo (plain, pale background, no glasses/hats, top of head and top of shoulders in shot, clear photo)

Proof of Identity (one document required)

• WV driver’s license or state ID card, in color
• Other government-issued photo ID

Proof of Residency (one document required)

• WV utility bill dated within 60 days (no cell phone or internet bills)
• WV tax record, mortgage document, or bank statement showing a WV address
• WV voter registration card

Optional – proof for a financial hardship waiver

• Proof of income or eligibility for benefits at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (if requesting a waiver of the state fee)

Check or money order for the application fee (the WV state fee is paid by mail, not by card online)

Getting Your West Virginia Medical Cannabis Card

1. Register an account on the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Portal (Complia).
2. Go to the OMC registration portal and create a new account.
3. Enter a valid email address. Complia will send a verification link by email.
4. Verify your account through the email link, then create your password.
5. Sign in to Complia to begin a NEW patient registration.
6. Select “Create New Application,” then “New Patient Registration.”
7. Review the Application Instructions and the list of required documentation, then continue.
8. Enter your personal information. The mailing address you provide is where your patient ID card will be sent.
9. Enter your identity document information.
10. Upload your Proof of Identity (WV driver’s license or state ID), in color.
11. Upload your Proof of Residency.
12. Upload a digital photograph for your patient ID card. Adjust the photo as needed.
13. Confirm the Patient Certification information. Your Kif Doctors physician submits the certification to the OMC, so it should be associated with your record.
14. If you are requesting a financial hardship waiver, select “Yes” and upload supporting documentation.
15. Complete the Attestations section.
16. Review your application. You can review each page to confirm the information is correct, then submit.
17. Mail your $50 application fee by check or money order. Make it payable to the West Virginia Department of Health, and write your Application ID and full name in the memo line.

Mail to: West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis 350 Capitol Street, Room 523 Charleston, WV 25301

18. The OMC begins processing once it receives both your submitted application and your payment.
19. Once reviewed, the OMC will email you the status of your application. If approved, the OMC will issue and mail your medical cannabis card.
20. If your application requires a correction, it will be rejected and returned to you to fix and resubmit — you will not need to create a brand-new application.
21. If your application is denied, the OMC will notify you by email of the reason(s).
22. Purchase medical cannabis products from a state-licensed dispensary. Present your medical cannabis identification card any time you purchase at a dispensary.

Please note: Applications are typically reviewed 30–60 days after the OMC receives your application and processes the required fee. Incomplete applications or applications with errors will be returned and take longer. The OMC recommends using a current browser such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.

How to renew your West Virginia medical cannabis card

It’s quick and easy to renew your West Virginia medical cannabis card with Kif Doctors. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Sign in to your Kif Doctors account or register as a renewal patient.
2. Speak to a West Virginia-licensed physician online (telemedicine is allowed for assessments in West Virginia).
3. Get approved and receive your new Patient Certification, which your physician submits to the OMC.
4. Log into your Complia account to submit your renewal application, then mail the $50 fee by check or money order to the OMC.
5. After your renewal is approved, the OMC will issue and mail your new card.

A medical cannabis card in West Virginia is valid for one year. A new Patient Certification is required for each renewal — a previous certification cannot be reused. Because state review can take 30–60 days, start your renewal well before your card expires so your access isn’t interrupted.

Next steps after renewal

After receiving your Kif Doctors certification, complete your renewal with the state.

Here’s a guide on what to do next.

Renewing Your West Virginia Medical Cannabis Card

1. Go to the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Portal (Complia) and click “Login.”
2. Sign in with the same email address you used to create your Complia account. If you forgot your password, use the reset option on the login page.
3. Select “Create New Application,” then choose the patient renewal option.
4. Review the Application Instructions and the list of required documentation, then continue.
5. Update your personal information as needed. The mailing address is where your patient ID card will be sent. (Note: you must notify the OMC within 10 days of any name or address change.)
6. Enter your identity document information.
7. Upload your Proof of Identity (WV driver’s license or state ID), in color.
8. Upload your Proof of Residency.
9. Upload a digital photograph for your patient ID card. Adjust the photo as needed.
10. Confirm your new Patient Certification information; your Kif Doctors physician submits it to the OMC.
11. If you are requesting a financial hardship waiver, select “Yes” and upload supporting documentation.
12. Complete the Attestations section.
13. Review your renewal application page by page, then submit.
14. Mail your $50 renewal fee by check or money order, payable to the West Virginia Department of Health, with your Application ID and full name in the memo line, to the OMC at 350 Capitol Street, Room 523, Charleston, WV 25301.
15. The OMC begins processing once it receives both your renewal and your payment.
16. Once reviewed, the OMC will email you the status. If approved, your new card will be issued and mailed.
17. If your renewal requires a correction, it will be returned for you to fix and resubmit.

Please note: When your card expires, the legal protection offered by the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act also expires. You may still submit your renewal, but you cannot purchase medical cannabis until your renewal card is issued — so renew early.

Legal limitations for cardholders

West Virginia’s medical cannabis program was established in 2017 with the passage of Senate Bill 386, the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act, and is administered by the Office of Medical Cannabis within the Bureau for Public Health. Registered patients may purchase up to a 30-day supply of medical cannabis as determined by their certifying physician.

Patients may purchase approved forms of medical cannabis, including oils, tinctures, pills/capsules, dermal patches, gels, topicals, and cannabis for vaporization. Edibles are not permitted, and smoking cannabis is not allowed under state law.

Under West Virginia medical cannabis law, patients with a card generally have the right to:

• Be certified for a qualifying serious medical condition and purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries.
• Have their registry information kept confidential within the state’s database.
• Designate a caregiver to obtain medical cannabis on their behalf.
• Be protected from arrest or prosecution for marijuana-related offenses when following the program’s rules.

However, a West Virginia medical cannabis identification card does not necessarily give you the right to:

• Possess more than a 30-day supply of medical cannabis. Violating this limit is a misdemeanor.
• Share, give, or sell medical cannabis to anyone not registered with the WV Medical Cannabis Program. This is a felony offense.
• Grow your own cannabis — home cultivation remains illegal in West Virginia. Only licensed facilities may grow cannabis.
• Use or possess medical cannabis at correctional or Regional Jail Authority facilities.
• Consume medical cannabis in public spaces — the only legal place to consume is in a private residence.
• Transport medical cannabis across state lines into West Virginia.
• Drive or operate a vehicle while under the influence of cannabis, which is a criminal offense.
• Own a firearm — federal law prohibits possession of firearms by individuals who use marijuana, including medical cardholders.

Recreational cannabis remains illegal in West Virginia. Insurance does not cover medical cannabis or related services; these costs are the patient’s responsibility.

How to become a caregiver in West Virginia

Caregiver cards are available to family members or assistants who help a registered patient obtain and use medical cannabis. A caregiver may purchase and transport medical cannabis on the patient’s behalf.

To qualify as a caregiver in West Virginia, you generally must:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Be a person designated by the patient (or, for a minor, designated by the parent or legal guardian, or approved by the Bureau).
• Complete a criminal history background check and be approved by the Bureau of Public Health before acting as a caregiver.
• Apply through the Complia portal by selecting “Create New Application,” then “New Caregiver Registration,” and mail the application fee by check or money order to the OMC.

A caregiver may serve more than one patient, and a patient may have more than one caregiver. Each requires its own registration.

Minor patient information

Minors (anyone under 18) cannot apply on their own. A parent or legal guardian must register on the minor’s behalf and serve as the caregiver. In the parent’s or guardian’s absence, an individual they designate, or an individual approved by the Bureau, may serve as the caregiver.

Caregivers for minor patients must undergo a criminal history background check and be approved by the Bureau of Public Health. Once the patient turns 18, they may apply on their own without a caregiver.

Can I use my West Virginia medical cannabis card in other states?

A West Virginia medical cannabis card is intended for use within West Virginia at state-licensed dispensaries. West Virginia maintains tight controls, including a prohibition on transporting cannabis across state lines.

Some states practice medical marijuana reciprocity and may recognize a valid out-of-state medical card, but rules vary widely by state and even by individual dispensary, and many require visitors to complete a separate visiting-patient application. States commonly cited as honoring out-of-state cards include Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington, D.C.

Reciprocity policies change frequently, so always confirm a state’s current rules before you travel — never assume your West Virginia card will be accepted, and never transport cannabis across state lines.

Lost or replacement cards

If your card is lost, stolen, destroyed, or illegible, you must apply to the Bureau for a replacement within 10 business days of discovering the loss. A replacement card carries a $25 fee (the Bureau may set higher fees for additional replacements and may waive or reduce the fee for demonstrated financial hardship). You may not obtain medical cannabis until the replacement card is issued.