A medical marijuana card in Virginia costs $99 through Virginia Cannabis Cards in 2026. Veterans receive a $10 discount, bringing the cost to $89.
There is no separate Virginia patient registration fee required simply to obtain a medical cannabis certification and purchase from a licensed dispensary. Virginia no longer requires patients to obtain a separate medical cannabis registration card; a valid written certification from an eligible practitioner is the primary document needed to access medical cannabis.
At Virginia Cannabis Cards, the pricing is straightforward:
| Cost | Price |
| Medical cannabis evaluation | $99 |
| Veteran evaluation | $89 |
| Required state patient registration fee | $0 |
| Fee if you don’t qualify | $0 |
So for most patients, the total cost to get certified through Virginia Cannabis Cards is simply $99.
What Does the $99 Medical Cannabis Evaluation Include?
The $99 fee covers your medical cannabis evaluation with a board-certified physician through telehealth.
The entire process is online. You schedule an appointment, meet with the physician from your phone, tablet, or computer, and discuss your medical history and the condition or symptoms for which you are considering medical cannabis.
If the physician determines that you qualify, your written certification is issued electronically.
Virginia transitioned to a digital certification system in December 2025. Certifications are now issued through the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority’s CCA Portal rather than relying on the old paper certification process.
Once issued, patients can access and download their digital medical cannabis certification through the portal.
Is There a Virginia State Fee for a Medical Marijuana Card?
For an ordinary patient obtaining a medical cannabis certification, there is no separate state registration fee.
Virginia does not require patients to register with the state simply to purchase medical cannabis. Your written certification is the primary document you need, along with a current government-issued ID.
This is important because older websites may still reference Virginia’s previous registration process and fees.
There is one situation where a separate fee can apply: if a patient later wants to add a registered agent to their certification, the CCA currently charges a $25 registration fee. That is not a standard cost of getting certified as a patient.
Do Veterans Get a Medical Marijuana Card Discount?
Yes.
Virginia Cannabis Cards offers veterans a $10 discount, reducing the standard $99 evaluation fee to:
$89 for veterans
There is no additional state patient-registration fee added to that amount.
What Happens If I Don’t Qualify?
At Virginia Cannabis Cards, you don’t pay if you don’t qualify.
Your appointment is a legitimate medical evaluation, and certification is ultimately the physician’s decision.
If the physician determines that medical cannabis isn’t appropriate for your particular situation, you won’t be charged for a certification you didn’t receive.
This is an important question to ask when comparing providers because pricing and refund policies can differ between practices.
Are There Any Hidden Costs?
There shouldn’t be.
At Virginia Cannabis Cards, the price of the evaluation is disclosed upfront.
You aren’t charged a separate fee for:
- The telehealth appointment
- Electronic delivery of your certification
- A required state patient registration
- A physical card mailed to your home
After certification, your primary additional expense is the cannabis you choose to purchase from a licensed Virginia medical dispensary.
Product prices are determined by the dispensaries and vary considerably depending on the product, quantity, promotions, and location.
You can use our Virginia Medical Cannabis Dispensary Directory to find licensed dispensaries throughout the state.
How Much Does It Cost to Renew a Virginia Medical Marijuana Card?
Medical cannabis certifications can be valid for up to one year, depending on the expiration date established by the practitioner.
That means certification is generally an annual expense for patients who want to remain in Virginia’s medical cannabis program.
At Virginia Cannabis Cards, the renewal process can also be completed online through telehealth.
Rather than waiting until the last minute, we recommend checking the expiration date on your certification and scheduling your renewal before it expires.
Visit our Virginia Medical Marijuana Card Renewal page to learn more.
How Does the Cost Compare With Recreational Cannabis in Virginia?
This is becoming an increasingly important part of the cost calculation.
Virginia has enacted a recreational marijuana framework scheduled to take effect in 2027. Recreational cannabis will be subject to taxes that qualifying medical cannabis sales are specifically exempt from.
Under current Virginia law, recreational marijuana sales will be subject to a special marijuana tax of:
6% before July 1, 2029
8% beginning July 1, 2029
That tax is imposed in addition to applicable Virginia retail sales taxes. Virginia law also requires localities to impose an additional marijuana tax of between 1% and 3.5%.
Medical cannabis gets an important exception: the special marijuana tax does not apply to cannabis products sold for treatment through Virginia’s medical cannabis program.
That means the annual cost of maintaining a medical cannabis certification should not be considered in isolation.
Could the Medical Cannabis Tax Advantage Pay for Your $99 Certification?
Potentially—but it depends on how much cannabis you purchase.
Here’s a simple example using only the special marijuana taxes that will apply to recreational purchases.
If the state marijuana tax is 6% and your locality imposes the minimum 1% local marijuana tax, that’s 7% in marijuana-specific taxes before considering ordinary sales taxes.
At that combined 7% rate:
- $500 of recreational purchases = $35 in marijuana taxes
- $1,000 = $70
- $1,500 = $105
- $2,000 = $140
At that hypothetical tax rate, someone spending approximately $1,415 per year would incur about $99 in marijuana-specific taxes.
The exact break-even point will depend on the applicable tax rates and purchasing habits. But for patients who purchase cannabis regularly, the tax distinction could offset some or all of the annual certification cost.
And because medical cannabis is exempt from the special marijuana tax itself, the potential savings become larger if the state rate rises to 8% in 2029.
Is a Medical Marijuana Card Worth $99?
That depends on why you’re getting it and how often you use Virginia’s medical cannabis program.
For someone seeking medical cannabis today, the $99 fee provides access to an evaluation with a healthcare practitioner and, if qualified, Virginia’s regulated medical cannabis program.
Once recreational sales begin, patients can also consider the financial differences between the two systems.
Medical cannabis’s exemption from Virginia’s special marijuana tax may be particularly relevant for patients who make regular purchases. The more frequently someone purchases cannabis for medical use, the more meaningful that difference can become.
There are also benefits that aren’t easily reduced to a dollar figure, including having your cannabis use documented as medicinal through a valid written certification and maintaining a relationship with a healthcare practitioner.
How to Compare Medical Marijuana Card Prices in Virginia
Price matters, but the cheapest advertised number isn’t necessarily the entire story.
Before booking with a provider, find out:
- What is the total evaluation price?
- Are there additional processing or certification fees?
- Do you pay if you aren’t approved?
- Are appointments completed through telehealth?
- Who performs the medical evaluation?
- How quickly is the certification issued after approval?
- What does renewal cost?
- Is pricing clearly disclosed before you book?
A very low advertised price becomes much less attractive if additional charges appear later.
Likewise, paying substantially more doesn’t necessarily mean you’re receiving a better medical evaluation.
Look for a provider that combines transparent pricing with qualified practitioners, convenient scheduling, and a clear certification process.
Why Choose Virginia Cannabis Cards?
Virginia Cannabis Cards makes the cost of obtaining your Virginia medical cannabis certification simple:
$99 standard evaluation
$89 for veterans
$0 if you don’t qualify
$0 required state patient registration fee
Patients also receive:
- 100% online telehealth evaluations
- Board-certified physicians
- Same-day appointments when available
- Electronic certifications
- Transparent pricing
- Hundreds of five-star patient reviews
- Simple online renewals
There are no surprise fees added after you’ve already started the process.
Get Your Virginia Medical Marijuana Card for $99
Getting certified for medical cannabis in Virginia doesn’t require multiple fees or a complicated state application.
For most Virginia Cannabis Card patients, the cost is straightforward:
$99 for your online medical cannabis evaluation—or $89 if you’re a veteran.
And if you don’t qualify, you don’t pay.
Schedule your online evaluation with Virginia Cannabis Cards today.
About Virginia Cannabis Cards
Virginia Cannabis Cards provides convenient online medical cannabis evaluations for adults throughout Virginia.
Our board-certified physicians provide individualized evaluations to determine whether medical cannabis may be appropriate for your condition.
Evaluation: $99 | Veterans: $89 | No charge if you don’t qualify
Same-day appointments may be available, and the entire process can be completed online.
Schedule your medical cannabis evaluation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a medical marijuana card in Virginia?
Virginia Cannabis Cards charges $99 for an online medical cannabis evaluation. Veterans receive a $10 discount, reducing the cost to $89.
Is there a Virginia state fee for a medical marijuana card?
Virginia does not currently require ordinary medical cannabis patients to pay a separate registration fee simply to obtain and use a written certification at licensed dispensaries.
Do I have to pay if I don’t qualify?
Not with Virginia Cannabis Cards. If you don’t qualify, you don’t pay.
Does Virginia still issue physical medical marijuana cards?
A separate physical registration card isn’t required for ordinary dispensary access. Virginia now uses digital written certifications through the CCA Portal, and patients can download their certification after it is issued.
How long does a Virginia medical cannabis certification last?
A written certification is valid for one year unless the practitioner specifies an earlier expiration date.
Are medical cannabis purchases exempt from Virginia’s recreational marijuana tax?
Yes. Virginia law specifically exempts cannabis products sold for treatment through the medical cannabis program from the special marijuana tax imposed on recreational marijuana sales.
Will recreational cannabis have additional taxes?
Yes. Under the enacted framework, recreational marijuana is subject to a 6% special state marijuana tax before July 1, 2029, increasing to 8% afterward. That is in addition to applicable retail sales taxes, and localities must impose an additional marijuana tax between 1% and 3.5%.
Can a medical card save me money once recreational sales begin?
It can, particularly for regular medical cannabis patients. Because qualifying medical cannabis sales are exempt from the special marijuana tax, the tax savings can offset part or potentially all of the annual certification cost, depending on how much cannabis you purchase.
Dr. Hooman Saberinia, MD, is a Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician with extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient care. With a background in diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions, he has also proudly served Veterans as a primary care physician within the VA healthcare system. Dr. Saberinia completed his internal medicine training at the University of Connecticut Health Center and holds a Master’s in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University. Passionate about a holistic approach to wellness, he advocates for the safe and effective use of medical marijuana to treat various conditions. Dr. Saberinia is committed to providing thorough medical evaluations for Virginia’s medical marijuana card program. Schedule a visit to receive your medical marijuana certification with Dr. Saberinia.