Virginia’s medical cannabis program is struggling to capture patients amid evolving local and adult-use policies in bordering states, resulting in above-average prices that drive consumers to purchase cannabis products elsewhere, according to a new study of the state’s medical cannabis market released Tuesday.
The 78-page report is the result of legislation emerging from the 2023 General Assembly session that tasked the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority with reviewing Virginia’s medical cannabis program, focusing on patient access and determining the necessity and feasibility of adding new licenses to the existing program.
The study exposed the flaws in Virginia’s medical cannabis program just weeks before lawmakers are set to reconvene for the 2024 session, where Democrats — who regained full control of the legislature earlier this month — and some Republicans are hoping to tackle legislation that would create a regulated marketplace for all adult-use cannabis in the commonwealth.
The Cannabis Control Authority contracted with Cannabis Public Policy Consulting to complete a population survey of past-year cannabis consumers and patients, an assessment of supply based on patient experiences, and a thorough policy analysis. The consultants surveyed 1,827 consumers in Virginia, 476 of whom are certified medical users.
The study, introduced during a livestreamed authority board meeting in Richmond on Tuesday, found that the price of medical cannabis in Virginia is significantly higher than in other states, resulting in 90% of patients purchasing cannabis from sources other than the Virginia medical market. The largest proportion of grams is obtained from an unregulated, “but not necessarily illicit,” market.
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