Meet a Virginia-licensed practitioner by video. If cannabis may help, your written certification is issued digitally — and the region's first licensed dispensary is just south of town.
For years, patients around Winchester had to drive to Northern Virginia, Richmond, or Lynchburg. Ayr's Winchester dispensary opened in late summer 2026 and held its grand opening with the Cannabis Control Authority on September 17 — the first licensed location anywhere in the region.
The operator is authorized to open more locations across the region, with Staunton and Fredericksburg among those planned. See the official CCA dispensary list for updates.
Just south of the city in Frederick County. Listed by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Check the dispensary's website for current hours and menu.
Virginia issues certifications digitally and no longer requires patient registration, so there's nothing to mail and no card to wait for.
Book with a Virginia-licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who issues medical cannabis certifications.
Walk through your symptoms, diagnoses, and past treatments. Your practitioner decides whether cannabis may benefit you — Virginia has no fixed condition list.
It's issued through the Cannabis Control Authority's CCA Portal and is valid for up to one year. Its QR code is what the dispensary scans.
A few practical details so your first trip goes smoothly.
Show your certification and a government-issued ID at the front desk before heading to the sales floor.
Virginia dispensaries have a pharmacist on staff who can help you choose products and dosing.
Expect cash or debit rather than credit cards. Many dispensaries have an ATM on site.
Browsing the menu and ordering online for in-store pickup can make the visit quicker.
Payment options, hours, and ordering vary by dispensary and can change — confirm on the dispensary's website before you go.
“I spent years driving to Richmond for appointments and products. Now it's a twenty-minute video visit and a ten-minute drive.”— Karen D., Stephens City
No. Your practitioner decides whether you have a condition or disease that may benefit from cannabis.
Virginia-licensed MDs and DOs, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners jointly licensed by the Boards of Nursing and Medicine.
No. Virginia removed the patient registration requirement. Your certification and ID are enough.
Virginia's program is for Virginia residents, permanent or temporary. You'd need to show Virginia residency, such as a lease or utility bill.
Adult-use retail can't start until July 1, 2027, and only for adults 21+. Until then, certification is the only way to buy at a dispensary.
Published by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.
Established in 1744 at the head of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester is where a young George Washington kept a surveying office, and it's still known as the Apple Capital thanks to the orchards that surround it and the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival each spring. Old Town's brick-paved walking mall anchors a city of about 28,000. Residents follow the same statewide medical cannabis process as all Virginians.
Section 54.1-3408.3 of the Code of Virginia permits licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to issue written certifications. The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority oversees the program and issues certifications through its CCA Portal.
Retail sales for adults 21+ may begin July 1, 2027, and the medical program is set to continue alongside them. Follow the Cannabis Control Authority for updates.
Telehealth visits with Virginia-licensed practitioners.
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