The number of arrests for cannabis possession in Virginia has gone from 9,000 in 1999 to almost 29,000 as of 2018. Even with the law changing, a better system is essential to ensure patients aren’t getting arrested for having their medicine.
So what’s a cannabis patient in West Virginia to do without access to a dispensary?
As of right now, Virginia dispensary menu information is virtually non-existent because the state still hasn’t started distributing the vital herb. Once Virginia dispensary menu information becomes available, we’ll create another post and link to it here.
Until then, the main places that will begin producing cannabis for the state are in operation in other states. With this being the case, let’s explore where the five pharmaceutical processors in Virginia will be located and some information about their current operations to get a better idea of what we can all expect for the future of Virginia cannabis.
Future Pharmaceutical Processor Locations
MedMen - Staunton
MedMen currently operates throughout several states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New York. The company was founded back in 2010 with a mission to contribute to a world in which cannabis is legal and regulated, resulting in a healthier and happier community.
Medmen currently has 19 licensed facilities throughout the U.S. The company’s mission is to redefine the cannabis industry, shaping laws that make the industry viable. They’re also working on scaling grow facilities with agronomic technology and sustainable techniques. The company also currently operates several dispensaries dispersed throughout some of the most strategic markets in the country, fueling the company’s growth.
This company is offering a wide variety of products in other states. From gummies to disposable vape pens, flower, and more, MedMen seemingly covers nearly everything a medical cannabis consumer might want to purchase.
Dalitso LLC
Dalitso LLC produces high-quality CBD oil and THC-A oil for Virginia medical marijuana patients. These products are known for assisting with the treatment of debilitating medical conditions, making them perfect as a stepping stone for the West Virginia cannabis industry.
This provider is based in Northern Virginia, producing medical cannabis extracts. At this point, the company is still awaiting its final approval for its permit and plans to open a pharmaceutical processor facility in Prince William County at some point this year.
Dalitso is starting a cannabis dispensary in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The name is Beyond / Hello, and they plan to begin offering patients the best medical cannabis service and product experience possible. They will open a Prince William County facility in Manassas this year.
Dharma Pharmaceuticals
Dharma Pharmaceuticals is located in Bristol, Virginia, making it one of the locally owned companies interested in providing CBD and THC-A oil products throughout the Virginia region. The owners are connected to southwest Virginia and care deeply for Virginians interested in using the treatments they’re offering.
Green Leaf Medical of Virginia, LLC
Green Leaf Medical of Virginia, LLC is working toward its goal of providing patients with the safe and effective pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis products they need. The company currently operates cannabis businesses in a couple of other states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
At this point, Green Leaf is working on some partnerships with local business owners for its Virginia-based operations. These collaborations will also include physicians and medical researchers with the promise to provide residents with top-tier patient-centered care. Green Leaf’s location is in the state’s capital, as well, making it the perfect location to produce and distribute its high-quality cannabis products.
Green Leaf has an 82,000 square foot facility located in Bedford County, PA. This location houses more than 200 genetics and a state-of-the-art extraction lab. They’re expecting to have cannabis concentrate available at their Richmond dispensary by the second quarter of 2020. If you’d like updates on their products, you can subscribe here.
Columbia Care
Columbia Care focuses on its patients, setting a new standard of care for patients seeking medical cannabis. Throughout its practices, the company brings seasoned professionals from medicine, law, finance, operations, and healthcare to engage with and forge a new path in this field of medicine.
This company is providing its own proprietary patent-pending medical brands, including TheraCeed, ClaraCeed, and EleCeed. These are pharmaceutical-grade brands that offer a variety of products, including hard-pressed tablets, vapes, lotions, and suppositories. The company plans to continue innovating with patient-centric service leading the way.
What are Patients Doing Until Cannabis Becomes Accessible?
At this point, it’s still illegal to transport marijuana products across state lines. With this in mind, it’s problematic as many medical marijuana patients throughout the Virginia region need these products.
Since 2015, it has been legal for Virginia residents to possess and purchase cannabis. However, they can’t find the herb nearby. With this being the case, many people are purchasing their cannabis from out of state.
Alaska, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington all have operational dispensaries and regulated adult-use marijuana for sale. Thus, many patients are finding their medicine in other states.
Currently, there haven’t been any states signaling that they’re offering cannabis to Virginia patients. However, there’s a newly implemented registration process in Virginia that could push for the change patients need to get their medicine from out-of-state resources.
To make a long story short, patients looking for dispensaries in Virginia are currently out of luck. While this is supposed to change this year, there’s still some wait time to legally begin purchasing your cannabis products in Virginia.
Since legalization in 2015, people have had to go out of state to find the medicine they need, bringing it back illegally across state lines. While we don’t advise breaking the law, this is what people are doing to get the medicine they need.
According to NORML, Haleigh’s Hope comes highly referred. Patients and families are finding the organic cannabis Haleigh’s Hope is producing is under strict consumer safety guidelines, making it an excellent choice for patients seeking relief.
Need help getting your MMJ card? Relief starts here with an email. Feel free to email us to schedule your appointment to get started on your MMJ card.
