Veterans and Medical Marijuana in Virginia

Veterans who have retired can get a marijuana card in Virginia without having to worry about losing their VA benefits read below to better understand how.

Veteran Discounts for Getting a Virginia Marijuana Card

At CannabisMD TeleMed we offer special discounts to veterans and first responders looking to get their medical marijuana card in Virginia. Many of our patients are veterans that have served our country proudly and now they are looking to receive natural treatments such as medical cannabis to help alleviate the symptoms of their medical condition.

VA Medical Cannabis and Marijuana Policies for Medical Marijuana Card at the State-Level MMJ Card

The majority of states including Virginia that have a medical marijuana program for their residents including veterans typically have a process where patients need to see a healthcare professional to be screened and evaluated so the marijuana doctor can determine if the veteran patient could benefit from medical marijuana treatment.

Once the marijuana practitioner conducts a thorough evaluation they are able to approve the patient for medical marijuana treatment. After the patient has been approved for medical cannabis products they are then able to submit that written approval for medical marijuana use to the state agency that issues medical marijuana cards.

In Virginia the state agency that issues medical marijuana cards is the Virginia Board of Pharmacy which falls under the authority of the Virginia Department of Health Professionals. In Virginia any medical conditions that the physician feels could benefit from medical marijuana use could qualify a patient for medical cannabis treatment.

VA doctors are not allowed to participate in these state-level medical marijuana evaluations which is where CannabisMD TeleMed comes in to help our veterans. Our providers are standing by to issue medical marijuana certificates so all of our patients including our veterans can experience the benefit of getting a medical marijuana card and using marijuana as a form of natural treatment.

Discussing Medical Marijuana with VA Healthcare Providers Will Not Cause Veterans to Lose VA Benefits

Some veterans wonder if they will lose their VA benefits for exploring and using medical marijuana in Virginia. The official site for Veterans Affairs states specifically that veterans will not effect eligibility for VA care and services, “Veteran participation in state marijuana programs does not affect eligibility for VA care and services. VA providers can and do discuss marijuana use with Veterans as part of comprehensive care planning, and adjust treatment plans as necessary.”

This is welcome news for many veterans who believe they have a medical condition that could benefit from medical marijuana. If you feel you could benefit from a getting a medical marijuana card in Virginia then please click the “Schedule Appointment Online” button at the bottom of this article.

Does VA Policy Allow for Veterans or Employees of the VA to Use Medical Marijuana?

As the law is currently understood, no federal agency allows for their employees to use marijuana products because it is still a schedule 1 controlled substance on the federal level. This means that if a patient works for a federal agency and screens positive for marijuana or THC they could be ineligible to continue their employment with that agency.

The VA is a federal agency which means that employees of the VA would not be permitted to use marijuana products at the time this article was written.

There are many bills that are have tried to change federal policy on marijuana including House Resolution 5520 also known as the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018. Unfortunately, H.R. 5220 died in Congress, but there are other efforts being made to change federal policy on medical marijuana.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act) if it gets signed into law could remove cannabis from the the Schedule 1 controlled substance list.

Veteran Affairs Policy on Discussing Medical Marijuana Use with Patients

• Veterans will not be denied VA benefits because of marijuana use.

• Veterans are encouraged to discuss marijuana use with their VA providers.

• VA health care providers will record marijuana use in the Veteran’s VA medical record in order to have the information available in treatment planning. As with all clinical information, this is part of the confidential medical record and protected under patient privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.

• VA clinicians may not recommend medical marijuana.

• VA clinicians may not prescribe products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), or any other cannabinoids.

This is only true for retired or members who have been separated from the military. For veterans who are actively serving which would include members of the Reserve and Guard are subject to the DoD policy on drug use rather than the VA policy.

What is the VA Policy on Medical Marijuana Prescriptions?

When a doctor certifies a patient for medical marijuana it is not technically called a marijuana prescription because prescriptions fall under federal authority which does not permit medical marijuana use.

However, states like Virginia that have a medical marijuana program do allow for marijuana and cannabis products to be used as treatment options and in these states it is called a physician issued medical cannabis certificate.

This certificate is a patients proof that they have been evaluated by a marijuana doctor that is registered with the state licensing authority to issue written marijuana certificates and the physician has determined they have a medical condition that could benefit from medical marijuana treatment.

How Can Veterans Get Medical Marijuana in Virginia?

That is very easy at CannabisMD TeleMed. All patients need to do is schedule an appointment with our marijuana doctor or one of his providers online to start the process of getting their Virginia Marijuana Card today. The appointment is 100% refundable if you are not approved for medical marijuana treatment.

We offer telehealth appointments that can be conducted entirely online from the safety and comfort of your home. The majority of our patients never have to leave their home even when submitting their medical cannabis certificate to the state of Virginia to get their marijuana card.

What is the Cost of Getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Virginia for Veterans?

At CannabisMD TeleMed we offer the best pricing when it comes to getting your medical marijuana card in Virginia. Our veteran and first responder discount brings the cost of the evaluation with our marijuana doctor to $89. Once a patient is approved by our cannabis doctor all they need to do is submit that certificate to the state and paid a state-application fee of $50.

After that all that is left is to wait for your approval email from the state which will include an electronic copy of your Virginia marijuana card. Once you are approved for your marijuana card you can begin to visit any state-licensed marijuana dispensary and begin purchasing marijuana and cannabis infused products.

Many of the marijuana dispensaries in Virginia also allow for patients to order their marijuana online without ever leaving their home. Once orders are placed private couriers that work for the dispensary will hand delivery the marijuana products directly to a patients house.

If you have any questions please call or text us at one of the numbers listed at the bottom of this page.

Ready to get approved for your marijuana card? Start the process today by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment Online” button below so you can get approved for medical marijuana treatment in Virginia and start purchasing natural medicinal marijuana products.