Medical Marijuana Bill Heads to the Governor

A bill to legalize medical marijuana in West Virginia is heading to Gov. Jim Justice for a signature.

Members of the House accepted Senate technical amendments to the bill Thursday night, sending it on for gubernatorial approval. 

Senate Bill 386 puts the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act under the control of the West Virginia Department of Public Health. It creates a 6 percent excise tax on marijuana and sets a July 2019 roll out date. 

A doctor could prescribe marijuana for certain illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, or seizures.

The bill does not allow distributors to sell forms of the drug that can be smoked or eaten, but does include prescription oils, pills, or patch versions, and a form that can be vaped.

House leadership has said the bill would, however, allow patients to make their own baked goods using the oils.

Medical marijuana would not be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

In an interview with West Virginia Public Broadcasting Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice said he would sign the medical marijuana bill.