USVI Cannabis Patient FAQs
Common questions from medical cannabis patients in the US Virgin Islands. Cards, costs, possession limits, home growing, and more.
Updated April 12, 2026
USVI Cannabis Patient FAQs
Answers to the most common questions about cannabis cards, costs, and patient rights in the US Virgin Islands under Act 8680. Have a question we haven’t covered? Contact us.
For the full walkthrough on getting your card, see the medical cannabis card guide. For visitor-specific logistics, see the tourist guide.
The basics
What law governs cannabis in the USVI?
The Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act (Act 8680), signed January 18, 2023. It replaced the earlier Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act (MCPCA) and established a combined adult-use, medical, and sacramental cannabis framework. For the full statutory history, see USVI cannabis law: MCPCA to Act 8680.
What is the Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR)?
The OCR is the USVI department that administers the territory’s cannabis program — issuing medical cards, licensing businesses, writing regulations, and enforcing compliance. It operates under the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. The current Executive Director is Joanne Moorehead. More about the OCR.
Do I need a medical card to use cannabis in the USVI?
No. Adult-use cannabis is legal for anyone 21 or older. You can possess up to 2 ounces of flower, 14 grams of concentrate, and 1 ounce of cannabis products without any card.
A medical card gives you two advantages: higher possession limits (4 oz flower, 1 oz concentrate, 2 oz products) and access to the patient home-grow program.
Getting your card
Where do I get a medical cannabis card?
Through the Office of Cannabis Regulation. A healthcare practitioner (MD, DO, ND, HMD, DC, PA, or NP) must first certify that you have a qualifying condition. You then apply to OCR with that certification. See the full card guide for the step-by-step process.
How much does a medical card cost?
The resident card costs up to $50 per year.
Do I have to be a VI resident?
No. Residents (45 days or more in the territory) get the standard $50/year card. Non-residents do not need a card to purchase — when dispensaries open, any adult 21+ can buy by paying a $20 non-resident Cannabis Fee per purchase at the register, plus 18% sales tax. Non-resident patients can also register their home-state medical card with OCR for recognition.
What medical conditions qualify?
The named conditions under Act 8680 include:
- Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, severe nausea, autism
Plus two broad categories:
- Any condition for which a practitioner would prescribe an opiate for pain
- Any condition a practitioner certifies the potential benefits of cannabis would outweigh the health risks
This last category gives practitioners wide discretion. If your condition isn’t named above, your practitioner can still certify you.
Who can prescribe medical cannabis?
Seven credential types recognized under the law:
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Osteopath (DO)
- Naturopath (ND)
- Homeopath (HMD)
- Chiropractor (DC)
- Physician’s Assistant (PA)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
See the practitioner directory for providers who can certify patients.
How old do I have to be?
18 years or older for a medical card. Anyone under 18 may receive a card under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian who is registered as a Designated Caregiver. You must be 21 to purchase cannabis at a dispensary or to possess it as an adult-use consumer.
Possession and purchase limits
How much cannabis can I possess?
| Flower | Concentrate | Cannabis products | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult-use (21+) | 2 oz | 14 g | 1 oz |
| Qualified Patient | 4 oz | 1 oz | 2 oz |
Possession limits are per person, not per household.
Are there daily purchase limits at dispensaries?
Yes. Point-of-sale ceilings once dispensaries open:
| Flower | Concentrate | Products | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident | 1 oz/day | 10 g/day | 2,000 mg/day |
| Non-resident | 14 g/day | 3 g/day | 500 mg/day |
Home growing
Can I grow cannabis at home?
Only if you are a Qualified Patient, Designated Caregiver, or Sacramental User and a VI resident. You may grow up to 6 flowering and 6 immature plants on private property with the landowner’s consent. No more than 12 flowering and 12 immature plants may be cultivated at a single address (so two patients at the same address hit the cap). Plants must be in a secure, enclosed location.
There is no adult-use home grow under Act 8680. If you don’t hold a patient card or sacramental use designation, you cannot grow at home.
Non-resident medical cardholders may not cultivate.
Is there a fee for home growing?
OCR may charge a reasonable annual fee for home cultivation, not to exceed $100 per year.
Caregivers
What is a Designated Caregiver?
A person 21 or older, designated in writing by a Qualified Patient (or the patient’s parent/legal guardian), who assists the patient with their cannabis use. A caregiver may purchase cannabis and cultivate on behalf of their patient.
How many patients can a caregiver assist?
Up to 3 Qualifying Patients, including themselves — unless the caregiver is employed at a healthcare facility where all their patients reside or are admitted.
Dispensaries and buying
When will dispensaries open?
OCR is targeting fall 2026 for the first regulated retail sales. Ten conditional dispensary licenses have been awarded (5 St. Thomas, 2 St. Croix, 3 St. John), but all operators are still in the build-out and inspection phase. No Certificate to Operate has been issued yet.
See the dispensary directory for your island:
Can I buy cannabis on one island and bring it to another?
No. Cannabis cannot legally move between St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John — not by ferry, not by seaplane, not in a checked bag. Dispensaries must refuse sales to customers they suspect will transport product off-island. Plan island by island, not per trip.
Where can I consume cannabis?
Not in public. Public consumption is prohibited. Consumption is permitted in private residences, licensed adult-use lounges (none operating yet), and venues with an Onsite Cannabis Consumption Permit.
Related guides
Frequently asked
- Do I need a medical cannabis card to buy weed in the USVI?
- Not necessarily. Adult-use cannabis is legal for anyone 21 or older under Act 8680. When dispensaries open, adults can purchase without a card. A medical card gives you higher possession limits and access to the patient home-grow program.
- How much does a USVI medical cannabis card cost?
- The resident medical cannabis card costs up to $50 per year. Non-residents pay a $20 Cannabis Fee per purchase at the dispensary — no separate card is required to buy.
- Can I grow cannabis at home in the USVI?
- Only Qualified Patients, Designated Caregivers, and Sacramental Users who are VI residents may grow at home — up to 6 flowering and 6 immature plants per person, with a cap of 12 flowering and 12 immature plants per address. There is no adult-use home grow.
- When will dispensaries open in the USVI?
- OCR is targeting fall 2026 for the first regulated retail sales. Ten conditional dispensary licenses have been awarded across St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, but none have received Certificates to Operate yet.