Signed by Governor Jim Justice, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes the growth, sale, and use of medical marijuana.

Highlights:

• Establishes West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission in the Department of Health and Human Resources, an independent commission to develop policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits smoking cannabis in any public place or in a motor vehicle (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the commission is encouraged to approve physician applications for the following, but not limited to, medical conditions (Sec. 1):

• Chronic or debilitating disease or condition;

• Seizures;

• Severe or chronic pain that does not find effective relief through standard pain medication; and

• Other conditions that are severe and for which other medical treatments have been ineffective.

• Requires qualifying patient or caregiver to obtain medical cannabis only through a medical cannabis grower or dispensary licensed by the commission (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the commission to encourage to license medical cannabis growers who qualify as a minority-owned business and actively seek to achieve geographic diversity (Sec. 1).

• Requires commission to register a public criminal justice agency as the primary testing laboratory to test cannabis and products containing cannabis to be sold in the state (Sec. 1).

• Classifies unlawful distribution, possession, manufacturing, or use of medical cannabis as a felony subject to five years of confinement and/or a fine not exceeding $10,000, in addition to any penalties relating to marijuana (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and adopt additional amendments to a bill that authorizes the growth, sale, and use of medical marijuana.

Highlights:

• Establishes West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission in the Department of Health and Human Resources, an independent commission to develop policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits smoking cannabis in any public place or in a motor vehicle (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the commission is encouraged to approve physician applications for the following, but not limited to, medical conditions (Sec. 1):

• Chronic or debilitating disease or condition;

• Seizures;

• Severe or chronic pain that does not find effective relief through standard pain medication; and

• Other conditions that are severe and for which other medical treatments have been ineffective.

• Requires qualifying patient or caregiver to obtain medical cannabis only through a medical cannabis grower or dispensary licensed by the commission (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the commission to encourage to license medical cannabis growers who qualify as a minority-owned business and actively seek to achieve geographic diversity (Sec. 1).

• Requires commission to register a public criminal justice agency as the primary testing laboratory to test cannabis and products containing cannabis to be sold in the state (Sec. 1).

• Classifies unlawful distribution, possession, manufacturing, or use of medical cannabis as a felony subject to five years of confinement and/or a fine not exceeding $10,000, in addition to any penalties relating to marijuana (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill with an amendment that authorizes the growth, sale, and use of medical marijuana.

Highlights:

• Establishes West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission in the Department of Health and Human Resources, an independent commission to develop policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits smoking cannabis in any public place or in a motor vehicle (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the commission is encouraged to approve physician applications for the following, but not limited to, medical conditions (Sec. 1):

• Chronic or debilitating disease or condition;

• Seizures;

• Severe or chronic pain that does not find effective relief through standard pain medication; and

• Other conditions that are severe and for which other medical treatments have been ineffective.

• Requires qualifying patient or caregiver to obtain medical cannabis only through a medical cannabis grower or dispensary licensed by the commission (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the commission to encourage to license medical cannabis growers who qualify as a minority-owned business and actively seek to achieve geographic diversity (Sec. 1).

• Requires commission to register a public criminal justice agency as the primary testing laboratory to test cannabis and products containing cannabis to be sold in the state (Sec. 1).

• Classifies unlawful distribution, possession, manufacturing, or use of medical cannabis as a felony subject to five years of confinement and/or a fine not exceeding $10,000, in addition to any penalties relating to marijuana (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the growth, sale, and use of medical marijuana.

Highlights:

• Establishes West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission in the Department of Health and Human Resources, an independent commission to develop policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations to implement programs to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits smoking cannabis in any public place or in a motor vehicle (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the commission is encouraged to approve physician applications for the following, but not limited to, medical conditions (Sec. 1):

• Chronic or debilitating disease or condition;

• Seizures;

• Severe or chronic pain that does not find effective relief through standard pain medication; and

• Other conditions that are severe and for which other medical treatments have been ineffective.

• Requires qualifying patient or caregiver to obtain medical cannabis only through a medical cannabis grower or dispensary licensed by the commission (Sec. 1).

• Specifies the commission to encourage to license medical cannabis growers who qualify as a minority-owned business and actively seek to achieve geographic diversity (Sec. 1).

• Requires commission to register a public criminal justice agency as the primary testing laboratory to test cannabis and products containing cannabis to be sold in the state (Sec. 1).

• Classifies unlawful distribution, possession, manufacturing, or use of medical cannabis as a felony subject to five years of confinement and/or a fine not exceeding $10,000, in addition to any penalties relating to marijuana (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text