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RICHMOND, Va. – A bill signed by Governor Northam last week will expand Virginia's medical cannabis program, allowing Virginians to purchase regulated products containing CBD and THC, cannabinoids, in a variety of formulas.
Virginians will now be able to visit a doctor, medical assistant or registered nurse practitioner and receive a certificate of use for CBD and THC-A products.
Oils, capsules, lozenges, stamps and lollipops are just some of the ways in which Commonwealth residents will be able to consume regulated marijuana products, which will be available for purchase at five drugstore pharmacies. dispensary style established throughout the state.
"The SB 1557 states that our pharmaceutical processors will be able to distribute medical cannabis in a variety of preparations, not just oil," said Virginia NORML executive director Jenn Michelle Pedini.
The bill also removes the cap on the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that can be included in CBD products. THC is the key psychoactive compound in cannabis that creates the "high" feeling associated with marijuana use.
While the law previously limited the THC content to 5 mg per dose, SB 1557 allows doses to contain up to 10 mg of THC, "the status quo limiting portion sizes used by adults in states with full-fledged programs like California and Washington, says Pedini.
The regulation of CBD products in the Commonwealth is not new, but it is slow.
- In 2015, the GA legalized the use of CBD and THCA for the treatment of persistent epilepsy.
- Then, in 2018, lawmakers passed a bill allowing doctors to recommend oils to all patients, not just those with epilepsy.
- Also in 2018, Governor Northam signed the two bills of the Joint Commission on Health Care, expanding the positive defense of possession of CBD to all patients and allowing the Board of Pharmacy to begin issuing licenses to corporations CBD oil processing.
Legislation passed in 2019 and now awaiting Northam's signature extends these developments by allowing the creation of a diverse range of cannabis products containing different amounts of THC – and allowing nurse practitioners and medical assistants to distribute certifications.
According to federal law, everything that comes from the marijuana plant – including CBD – is classified as a controlled substance in Schedule 1 and is illegal. But Virginia's affirmative defense law creates legal protection for certified patients, caregivers and processors, and prevents them from being sued for possession of products purchased with a certificate issued by a regulated dispensary.
"There is no protection at the same level or at the federal level for patients with medical cannabis," said Pedini, recommending patients to always maintain their certification with their medications.
At present, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy has given conditional approval to five companies – one for each of the state's health service areas – to open CBD processing facilities in the state.
The 5 medical marijuana facilities in Virginia and their service areas. Photo courtesy of Virginia NORML (Jenn Michelle Pedini)
Green Leaf Medical, based in Maryland, opens a clinic in Manchester for people living in Health Services Zone 4, which includes 27 counties, including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover Counties, and the cities of Richmond. , Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights.
According to the bill, Green Leaf will open its facilities in Manchester by September 2019.
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