West Virginia

The National Hemp Association was awarded $19.6 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to monitor the impact of hemp cultivation in the Chesapeake Bay. The grant was awarded as part of the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The West Virginia Supreme Court will soon hear the appeal of an individual who was denied access to medical cannabis due to being on probation.

West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams said he would support a voter referendum to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state.

The open and outdoor cultivation of industrial hemp in West Virginia plummeted nearly 50% from 2021 to 2022, according to USDA data.

The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Advisory Board declined to institute a cap on THC potency during their last meeting, stating that they need additional information before making a decision. 

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. is opening West Virginia’s first medical cannabis dispensary today, more than four years after lawmakers approved the program.

The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Advisory Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a proposal that would allow physicians to recommend medical cannabis to any patient they think could benefit from it.

The West Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus of the House of Delegates wrote in a letter to the state’s top cannabis regulator about concerns that cannabis processor and dispensary licenses will only be awarded to white males.

West Virginia has chosen Metrc to be the state’s seed-to-sale traceability vendor, moving the state one step closer toward opening its medical cannabis market.

West Virginia has issued 10 medical cannabis cultivation licenses. Most of the licenses were issued to companies based in other states.

West Virginia lawmakers have approved medical cannabis reforms that would grant access to cannabis flower and edible products to registered patients.

West Virginia lawmakers have advanced a medical cannabis bill from the Senate Judiciary Committee, but not before stripping down key components from the bill including the right for patients to home grow and possess cannabis flower products.

West Virginia Del. Sammi Brown has re-proposed legislation to decriminalize cannabis possession and legalize the home growing of cannabis by adults at least 21 years old.

The application process for West Virginia medical cannabis cultivator, processor, and dispensary business licenses is launching this Thursday, nearly three years after state lawmakers first approved the reforms.

Officials in West Virginia have canceled and reissued their request for banking solutions for the state’s upcoming medical cannabis industry after the first round’s five applicants failed to meet all of the state’s requirements.

Medical cannabis products are expected in West Virginia in two or three more years; this could mean a gap of up to five years between the bill’s signing and the market’s official launch.

The proposal would eliminate taxes on medical cannabis growers and allow vertical integration in the space.

The West Virginia state government is seeking a financial institution willing to work with the state’s medical cannabis industry; the director of the state’s medical program expects licensing to pick up once a bank is secured.

The new law authorizes the state treasurer to select financial institutions who will provide banking services via a competitive bidding process to state-legal cannabis companies.

A bill allowing state-licensed medical cannabis companies to access banking services in West Virginia has passed both the state House and Senate and now awaits the governor’s signature.