Virginia’s New Medical Marijuana Tracking System Shows Strong Sales, Even As Patients Complain About High Prices

*“This system gives us a clear, real-time view of medical cannabis across
Virginia. We can see which products are popular, track plant growth, and
understand sales trends.”*

*By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury*

Virginia’s fledgling seed-to-sale tracking system has only been online for
two months, but it is already painting the clearest picture yet of the
state’s medical cannabis market, data released this week shows.

Operated by the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) and run through
the private vendor Metrc, the system monitors every plant, product and sale
in real time—a first for the commonwealth. Between July and August, the
platform logged 17,786 plants harvested, nearly $30 million in sales and
more than 256,000 transactions.

“This system gives us a clear, real-time view of medical cannabis across
Virginia,” said Jamie Patten, acting head and chief administrative officer
of the CCA. “We can see which products are popular, track plant growth, and
understand sales trends. That information helps us protect patients,
prevent illegal products from entering the market, and make smart decisions
for the program’s future.”

The tracking system’s early data offers a snapshot of what patients are
buying. Nearly half of sales were flower, or cannabis buds, while
concentrates made up 32 percent of purchases. Infused edibles accounted for
15 percent, and shake trim—the loose leaf material left after flower
processing—represented 5 percent.

State regulators say these insights can guide oversight and improve
transparency in a program that has faced persistent complaints from
patients. Licensed processors must use the Metrc platform, which officials
argue ensures only tested, regulated cannabis reaches consumers.

The CCA plans to build on the rollout by creating a public dashboard where
Virginians can view product and sales data themselves.

The numbers arrive as patients continue to raise concerns about
affordability and access. A 2024 survey conducted by the Virginia Medical
Cannabis Coalition found that a majority of patients felt prices were too
high and options too limited. Some respondents reported traveling to
Washington, D.C., or Maryland to obtain cheaper products.

Similarly, public feedback collected by the state last year highlighted
frustrations with wait times, product variety and affordability. One
patient told WVTF Public Radio they paid nearly twice as much in Virginia
compared with neighboring states, while others described the program as
confusing and overly restrictive.

CCA leaders have said that increased transparency and tighter oversight
could help stabilize the market, though they acknowledge that structural
challenges remain.

Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Program allows qualified patients to legally
access state-regulated cannabis products, provided they receive a written
certification from a licensed medical practitioner, such as a physician,
physician assistant or advanced practice nurse.

Patients must be residents of Virginia, at least 18 years old (though
parents or legal guardians can certify for minors or vulnerable adults),
and have a condition that their practitioner believes may benefit from use
of cannabis.

Once they have the certification, they may purchase medical cannabis from
licensed dispensaries; the law no longer requires patients to register with
the state Board of Pharmacy in order to access the program—a change that
took effect in July 2022.

The certification must be renewed annually unless the practitioner
specifies a shorter validity period. All medical cannabis sold in the
program is produced by state-licensed processors, tested and regulated
under oversight by the CCA to ensure safety, transparency and adherence to
legal standards.

The unveiling of the CCA’s seed-to-sale system also comes against the
backdrop of a broader debate at the General Assembly—whether to allow
recreational cannabis sales. Lawmakers legalized simple possession in 2021
but never finalized a retail market, leaving medical cannabis the only
regulated option for consumers.

This summer, a joint legislative commission heard multiple
proposals outlining potential frameworks for recreational sales, including
timelines, tax structures and licensing options. Experts warned that
without a legal retail system, Virginians will continue to turn to
unregulated markets and out-of-state dispensaries.

Legislators are weighing whether to introduce a retail system as early as
2026, though political divisions remain.

The push follows the creation of a new Joint Cannabis Commission, which
began meeting in July to study retail models and prepare legislation.
Advocates argue that Virginia’s medical cannabis system, now strengthened
by the Metrc tracking platform, could serve as a foundation for broader
regulation if the legislature moves forward.

For now, the CCA says its focus remains on refining the medical program and
ensuring public safety. The seed-to-sale platform allows regulators to
trace products from cultivation through distribution, reducing the risk of
diversion or contamination.

Officials did not specify when the public dashboard would launch, but they
emphasized it would give patients and lawmakers alike clearer insight into
how the market is functioning.

*This story was first published by Virginia Mercury.*

The post Virginia’s New Medical Marijuana Tracking System Shows Strong
Sales, Even As Patients Complain About High Prices appeared first on Marijuana
Moment.