Virginia Law

Article 4.2. Permitting of Pharmaceutical Processors to Produce and Dispense Cannabis Products.

As used in this article:

"Botanical cannabis," "cannabis oil," "cannabis product," "designated caregiver facility," "practitioner," "registered agent," and "usable cannabis" have the same meanings as specified in § 54.1-3408.3.

"Cannabis dispensing facility" means a facility that (i) has obtained a permit from the Board pursuant to § 54.1-3442.6; (ii) is owned, at least in part, by a pharmaceutical processor; and (iii) dispenses cannabis products produced by a pharmaceutical processor to a patient, his registered agent, or, if such patient is a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in § 18.2-369, such patient's parent or legal guardian.

"Pharmaceutical processor" means a facility that (i) has obtained a permit from the Board pursuant to § 54.1-3442.6 and (ii) cultivates Cannabis plants intended only for the production of cannabis oil, botanical cannabis, and usable cannabis, produces cannabis products, and dispenses cannabis products to a patient pursuant to a written certification, his registered agent, or, if such patient is a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in § 18.2-369, such patient's parent or legal guardian.

2017, c. 613; 2018, cc. 246, 809; 2019, c. 690; 2020, c. 1278; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 205, 227, 228; 2022, cc. 259, 391, 392, 642; 2023, cc. 760, 780.

A. No person shall operate a pharmaceutical processor or a cannabis dispensing facility without first obtaining a permit from the Board. The application for such permit shall be made on a form provided by the Board and signed by a pharmacist who will be in full and actual charge of the pharmaceutical processor's dispensing area or cannabis dispensing facility. The Board shall establish an application fee and other general requirements for such application.

B. Each permit shall expire annually on a date determined by the Board in regulation. The number of permits that the Board may issue or renew in any year is limited to one pharmaceutical processor and up to five cannabis dispensing facilities for each health service area established by the Board of Health. Permits shall be displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises of the pharmaceutical processor and cannabis dispensing facility.

C. The Board shall adopt regulations establishing health, safety, and security requirements for pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities. Such regulations shall include requirements for (i) physical standards; (ii) location restrictions; (iii) security systems and controls; (iv) minimum equipment and resources; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) labeling and packaging; (vii) routine inspections no more frequently than once annually; (viii) processes for safely and securely dispensing and delivering in person cannabis products to a patient, his registered agent, or, if such patient is a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in § 18.2-369, such patient's parent or legal guardian; (ix) dosage limitations for cannabis products that provide that each dispensed dose of a cannabis product not exceed 10 milligrams of total tetrahydrocannabinol, except as permitted under § 54.1-3442.7:2; (x) a process for the wholesale distribution of and the transfer of usable cannabis, botanical cannabis, cannabis oil, and cannabis products between pharmaceutical processors, between a pharmaceutical processor and a cannabis dispensing facility, and between cannabis dispensing facilities; (xi) an allowance for the sale of devices for administration of dispensed cannabis products and hemp-based CBD products that meet the applicable standards set forth in state and federal law, including the laboratory testing standards set forth in subsection M; (xii) an allowance for the use and distribution of inert product samples containing no cannabinoids for patient demonstration exclusively at the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility, and not for further distribution or sale, without the need for a written certification; (xiii) a process for acquiring industrial hemp extracts and formulating such extracts into cannabis products; and (xiv) an allowance for the advertising and promotion of the pharmaceutical processor's products and operations, which shall not limit the pharmaceutical processor from the provision of educational material to practitioners who issue written certifications and patients. The Board shall also adopt regulations for pharmaceutical processors that include requirements for (a) processes for safely and securely cultivating Cannabis plants intended for producing cannabis products, (b) the disposal of agricultural waste, and (c) a process for registering cannabis products.

D. The Board shall require that, after processing and before dispensing any cannabis products, a pharmaceutical processor shall make a sample available from each batch of cannabis product for testing by an independent laboratory located in Virginia meeting Board requirements. A valid sample size for testing shall be determined by each laboratory and may vary due to sample matrix, analytical method, and laboratory-specific procedures. A minimum sample size of 0.5 percent of individual units for dispensing or distribution from each homogenized batch of cannabis oil is required to achieve a representative cannabis oil sample for analysis. A minimum sample size, to be determined by the certified testing laboratory, from each batch of botanical cannabis is required to achieve a representative botanical cannabis sample for analysis. Botanical cannabis products shall only be tested for the following: total cannabidiol (CBD); total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); terpenes; pesticide chemical residue; heavy metals; mycotoxins; moisture; and microbiological contaminants. Testing thresholds shall be consistent with generally accepted cannabis industry thresholds. The pharmaceutical processor may remediate botanical cannabis or cannabis oil that fails any quality testing standard except pesticides. Following remediation, all remediated botanical cannabis or cannabis oil shall be subject to laboratory testing, which shall not be more stringent than initial testing prior to remediation. Remediated botanical cannabis or cannabis oil that passes such quality testing may be packaged and labeled. If a batch of botanical cannabis fails retesting after remediation, it shall be considered usable cannabis and may be processed into cannabis oil. Stability testing shall not be required for any cannabis product with an expiration date assigned by the pharmaceutical processor of six months or less from the date of the cannabis product registration approval. Stability testing required for assignment of an expiration date longer than six months shall be limited to microbial testing, on a pass/fail basis, and potency testing, on a 15 percent deviation basis, of total THC and total CBD. No cannabis product shall have an expiration date longer than six months from the date of the cannabis product registration approval unless supported by stability testing.

E. A laboratory testing samples for a pharmaceutical processor shall obtain a controlled substances registration certificate pursuant to § 54.1-3423 and shall comply with quality standards established by the Board in regulation.

F. Every pharmaceutical processor's dispensing area or cannabis dispensing facility shall be under the personal supervision of a licensed pharmacist on the premises of the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility unless all cannabis products are contained in a vault or other similar container to which only the pharmacist has access controls. The pharmaceutical processor shall ensure that security measures are adequate to protect the cannabis from diversion at all times, and the pharmacist-in-charge shall have concurrent responsibility for preventing diversion from the dispensing area.

Every pharmaceutical processor shall designate a person who shall have oversight of the cultivation and production areas of the pharmaceutical processor and shall provide such information to the Board. The Board shall direct all communications related to enforcement of requirements related to cultivation and production of cannabis and cannabis products by the pharmaceutical processor to such designated person.

G. The Board shall require the material owners of an applicant for a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility permit to submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with his fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding the applicant's material owners. The cost of fingerprinting and the criminal history record search shall be paid by the applicant. The Central Criminal Records Exchange shall forward the results of the criminal history background check to the Board or its designee, which shall be a governmental entity. A pharmaceutical processor shall maintain evidence of criminal background checks for all employees and delivery agents of the pharmaceutical processor. Criminal background checks of employees and delivery agents may be conducted by any service sufficient to disclose any federal and state criminal convictions.

H. In addition to other employees authorized by the Board, a pharmaceutical processor may employ individuals who may have less than two years of experience (i) to perform cultivation-related duties under the supervision of an individual who has received a degree in a field related to the cultivation of plants or a certification recognized by the Board or who has at least two years of experience cultivating plants, (ii) to perform extraction-related duties under the supervision of an individual who has a degree in chemistry or pharmacology or at least two years of experience extracting chemicals from plants, and (iii) to perform duties at the pharmaceutical processor and cannabis dispensing facility upon certification as a pharmacy technician.

I. A pharmaceutical processor to whom a permit has been issued by the Board may (i) establish up to five cannabis dispensing facilities, subject to the permit requirement set forth in subsection B, for the dispensing of cannabis products that have been cultivated and produced on the premises of a pharmaceutical processor permitted by the Board and (ii) establish, if authorized by the Board, one additional location at which the pharmaceutical processor may cultivate cannabis plants. Each cannabis dispensing facility and the additional cultivation location shall be located within the same health service area as the pharmaceutical processor.

J. No person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Commonwealth or another jurisdiction within the last five years shall be employed by or act as an agent of a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility.

K. Every pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall adopt policies for pre-employment drug screening and regular, ongoing, random drug screening of employees.

L. A pharmacist at the pharmaceutical processor's dispensing area and the cannabis dispensing facility shall determine the number of pharmacy interns, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy technician trainees who can be safely and competently supervised at one time; however, no pharmacist shall supervise more than six persons performing the duties of a pharmacy technician at one time in the pharmaceutical processor's dispensing area or cannabis dispensing facility.

M. A pharmaceutical processor may acquire from a registered industrial hemp handler or processor industrial hemp extracts that (i) are grown and processed in Virginia in compliance with state or federal law and (ii) notwithstanding the tetrahydrocannabinol limits set forth in the definition of "industrial hemp extract" in § 3.2-5145.1, contain a total tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of no greater than 0.3 percent. A pharmaceutical processor may process and formulate such extracts into an allowable dosage of cannabis product. Industrial hemp extracts acquired and formulated by a pharmaceutical processor are subject to the same third-party testing requirements that may apply to cannabis plant extract. Testing shall be performed by a laboratory located in Virginia and in compliance with state law governing the testing of cannabis products. The industrial hemp handler or processor shall provide such third-party testing results to the pharmaceutical processor before industrial hemp extracts may be acquired.

N. Product labels for all cannabis products and botanical cannabis shall be complete, accurate, easily discernable, and uniform among different products and brands. Pharmaceutical processors shall affix to all cannabis products and botanical cannabis a label, which shall also be accessible on the pharmaceutical processor's website, that includes:

1. The product name;

2. All active and inactive ingredients, including cannabinoids, terpenes, additives, preservatives, flavorings, sweeteners, and carrier oils;

3. The total percentage and milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol included in the product and the number of milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in each serving;

4. The amount of product that constitutes a single serving and the amount recommended for use by the practitioner or dispensing pharmacist;

5. Information regarding the product's purpose and detailed usage directions;

6. Child and safety warnings in a conspicuous font; and

7. Such other information required by the Board.

O. A pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall maintain an adequate supply of cannabis products that (i) contain cannabidiol as their primary cannabinoid and (ii) have low levels of or no tetrahydrocannabinol.

P. With the exception of § 2.2-4031, neither the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) nor public participation guidelines adopted pursuant thereto shall apply to the adoption of any regulation pursuant to this section. Prior to adopting any regulation pursuant to this section, the Board of Pharmacy shall publish a notice of opportunity to comment in the Virginia Register of Regulations and post the action on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. Such notice of opportunity to comment shall contain (i) a summary of the proposed regulation; (ii) the text of the proposed regulation; and (iii) the name, address, and telephone number of the agency contact person responsible for receiving public comments. Such notice shall be made at least 60 days in advance of the last date prescribed in such notice for submittals of public comment. The legislative review provisions of subsections A and B of § 2.2-4014 shall apply to the promulgation or final adoption process for regulations pursuant to this section. The Board of Pharmacy shall consider and keep on file all public comments received for any regulation adopted pursuant to this section.

2017, c. 613; 2018, c. 567; 2019, cc. 417, 681, 690; 2020, cc. 831, 928, 944, 1278; 2021 Sp. Sess. I, cc. 205, 227, 228, 550, 551; 2022, cc. 259, 391, 392, 642; 2023, cc. 744, 760, 780, 794, 799, 812.

A. A pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall dispense or deliver cannabis products only in person to (i) a patient who is a Virginia resident or temporarily resides in Virginia and has been issued a valid written certification; (ii) such patient's registered agent; or (iii) if such patient is a minor or a vulnerable adult as defined in § 18.2-369, such patient's parent or legal guardian who is a Virginia resident or temporarily resides in Virginia. A companion may accompany a patient into a pharmaceutical processor's dispensing area or cannabis dispensing facility. Prior to the initial dispensing of cannabis products pursuant to each written certification, a pharmacist or pharmacy technician employed by the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall make and maintain, on site or remotely by electronic means, for two years a paper or electronic copy of the written certification that provides an exact image of the document that is clearly legible; shall view, in person or by audiovisual means, a current photo identification of the patient, registered agent, parent, or legal guardian; and shall verify current board registration of the corresponding registered agent if applicable. Thereafter, an initial dispensing may be delivered to the patient, registered agent, parent, legal guardian, or designated caregiver facility. Prior to any subsequent dispensing of cannabis products pursuant to each written certification, an employee or delivery agent shall view a current photo identification of the patient, registered agent, parent, or legal guardian and the current board registration issued to the registered agent if applicable. No pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall dispense more than a 90-day supply, as determined by the dispensing pharmacist or certifying practitioner, for any patient during any 90-day period. A pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility may dispense less than a 90-day supply of a cannabis product for any patient during any 90-day period; however, a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility may dispense more than one cannabis product to a patient at one time. No more than four ounces of botanical cannabis shall be dispensed for each 30-day period for which botanical cannabis is dispensed. In determining the appropriate amount of a cannabis product to be dispensed to a patient, a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall consider all cannabis products dispensed to the patient and adjust the amount dispensed accordingly.

B. A pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall dispense only cannabis products produced on the premises of a pharmaceutical processor permitted by the Board or cannabis products that have been formulated with extracts from industrial hemp acquired by a pharmaceutical processor from a registered industrial hemp handler or processor pursuant to § 54.1-3442.6. A pharmaceutical processor may begin cultivation upon being issued a permit by the Board.

C. The Board shall report annually by December 1 to the Chairmen of the House Committee for Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health on the operation of pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities issued a permit by the Board.

D. The concentration of total tetrahydrocannabinol in any cannabis product on site may be up to 15 percent greater than or less than the level of total tetrahydrocannabinol listed in the approved cannabis product registration. A pharmaceutical processor and cannabis dispensing facility shall ensure that such concentration in any cannabis product on site is within such range. A pharmaceutical processor producing cannabis products shall establish a stability testing schedule of cannabis products that have an expiration date longer than six months.

2017, c. 613; 2018, cc. 246, 567, 809; 2019, c. 690; 2020, cc. 730, 831, 928, 1278; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 205, 227, 228; 2022, cc. 259, 391, 392, 642; 2023, cc. 744, 760, 780, 794.

A. Pharmaceutical processors shall comply with all packaging and labeling requirements set forth in this article and Board regulations.

B. No cannabis product shall be packaged in a container or wrapper that bears, or is otherwise labeled to bear the trademark, trade name, famous mark as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1125, or other identifying mark, imprint, or device, or any likeness thereof, of a manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor of a product intended for human consumption other than the manufacturer, processor, packer, or distributor that did in fact so manufacture, process, pack, or distribute such cannabis product.

C. Pharmaceutical processors may correct typographical errors made on cannabis product labels and any documents generated as the result of a wholesale transaction.

2023, cc. 760, 780.

A. A pharmaceutical processor shall register with the Board each cannabis product it manufactures. Applications for cannabis product registration shall be submitted to the Board on a form prescribed by the Board.

B. An application for cannabis product registration shall include:

1. The total tetrahydrocannabinol and total cannabidiol in such cannabis product, based on laboratory testing results for the cannabis product formulation;

2. A product name;

3. A proposed product package; and

4. A proposed product label, which shall not be required to contain an expiration date at the time of application.

C. The Board shall register all cannabis products that meet testing, labeling, and packaging standards after an application for registration is submitted. If the cannabis product fails to meet such standards or the application was deficient, the Board shall notify the applicant of the specific reasons for such failure or deficiency.

D. Within two business days of the Board's approval or deemed approval, the Board shall enter the cannabis product's national drug code number into the Prescription Monitoring Program.

E. The following cannabis product deviations from an approved cannabis product registration shall be permitted without any requirement for a new cannabis product registration or notice to the Board:

1. A deviation in the concentration of total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or total cannabidiol (CBD) in a cannabis product or dose thereof of up to 15 percent greater than or less than the concentration of total tetrahydrocannabinol or total cannabidiol, either or both, listed in the approved cannabis product registration; however, for a cannabis product with five milligrams or less of total THC or total CBD per dose, the total THC or total CBD concentration shall be within 0.5 milligrams of the single dose total THC or total CBD concentrations approved for that cannabis product;

2. A variation in packaging, provided that the packaging is substantially similar to the approved packaging and otherwise complies with applicable packaging requirements;

3. A deviation in labeling, including a variation made in accordance with § 54.1-3442.7:1, that reflects allowable deviations in total THC or total CBD or that makes a minor text, font, design, or similar modification, provided that the labeling is substantially similar to the approved labeling and otherwise complies with applicable labeling requirements; and

4. Any other insignificant changes.

F. A pharmaceutical processor may submit a request to modify an existing cannabis product registration in the event of a cannabis product deviation that is not set forth in subsection E. Upon receipt, the Board shall respond to such request. The Board may grant or deny the request, propose a reasonable revision, or require the pharmaceutical processor to provide additional information.

2023, cc. 760, 780.

A. Pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities may (i) advertise and promote products and operations and (ii) provide educational material to practitioners, patients, and the public.

B. Pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities may engage in advertising or marketing that does not:

1. Include false or misleading statements;

2. Promote overconsumption;

3. Depict a person younger than 21 years of age;

4. Appeal particularly to persons younger than 21 years of age, including by using cartoons in any way;

5. Associate cannabis products with candy or similar products or depicts any images that bear a reasonable resemblance to a candy or similar product; or

6. Contain any seal, flag, crest, coat of arms, or other insignia that is likely to mislead patients or the public to believe that the cannabis product is made or endorsed by the Commonwealth.

C. All advertising and marketing by pharmaceutical processors and cannabis dispensing facilities shall (i) accurately and legibly identify the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility responsible for its content, (ii) include a statement that cannabis products are for use by certified patients only, and (iii) comply with Board regulations.

2023, cc. 760, 780.

No agent or employee of a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility shall be prosecuted under Chapter 11 (§ 4.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 4.1 or § 18.2-248, 18.2-248.1, or 18.2-250 for possession or manufacture of marijuana or for possession, manufacture, or distribution of cannabis products, subject to any civil penalty, denied any right or privilege, or subject to any disciplinary action by a professional licensing board if such agent or employee (i) possessed or manufactured such marijuana for the purposes of producing cannabis products in accordance with the provisions of this article and Board regulations or (ii) possessed, manufactured, or distributed such cannabis products that are consistent with generally accepted cannabis industry standards in accordance with the provisions of this article and Board regulations.

2017, c. 613; 2020, cc. 764, 1278; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 227, 228, 550, 551.