Curious about What West Virginians are saying right now?

  • "Allowing nerve practitioners to provide medical evaluations in West VA, as well as implementing more open and diverse, patient, demographic questions and data for tracking and statistical analysis"

    - Registered Voter from 26570

  • "I work in the cannabis industry, and I’ve seen firsthand how it changes peoples lives. It helps people cope with pain, manage PTSD symptoms and even alleviate cancer treatment symptoms. I’ve also seen tax revenue that this generates go back into the community. I currently work in Maryland, although I used to work in West Virginia in the cannabis industry. I relocated because West Virginia‘s market seemed to go stagnant, for example, edibles are still illegal in West Virginia, although in Maryland, I see them being purchased every day mostly by those 60+ that do not want to smoke, but do want the therapeutic benefits. Maryland has a 12% tax that is invested back into local communities and roads. Meanwhile, West Virginian’s are traveling or even relocating to Maryland to get access to their medication. These restrictive policies are not protecting West Virginian’s lives, but rather hurting the community, especially when bordering states have been continuing to keep up and go legal. West Virginian’s aren’t just losing tax revenue. we’re losing our own market to neighboring states, in a state like ours where funding is desperately needed for our roads and our communities, and even our schools, we’re turning away progress."

    - Registered Voter from 26726

  • "I’m a patient for medical cannabis. In the 2 years I’ve had my card I have seen so much improvement in my back pain, and with my PTSD. I’ve never felt more at ease than I do with my medication that I get from the dispensary. West Virginia needs this because they always wonder why everyone leaves this state. But no one actually listens to what the people want."

    - Registered Voter from 26554

  • "Marijuana is strongly judged incorrectly as it was by Nixon in the 60s during the war on drugs. Make it fully recreational. I know many alcoholics that quit and use marijuana as a substitute and it helps them in many ways either physically or mentally. Marijuana is not bad nor has it ever been. The government puts bad labels on it. That’s why a lot of people throw shame on using it even if it can drastically help their health. Everyone was told to hate it and stay away from it when it’s one of the world’s best medicines."

    — Registered Voter from 26301

  • "Much rather see recreational marijuana than kratom."

    — Registered Voter from 25387

  • "It is necessary for mental health."

    - Registered Voter from 25309

  • "I am a veteran and believe that God put every herb bearing seed on this planet for man's use"

    - Registered Voter from 26763

  • "I think we need to focus more on how to make the program better for patients, products more affordable, easier access and the OMC should have to take the same educational courses as cannabis consultants because they should also know the products (Currently, they have no idea about any of the product on dispensary shelves. It’s actually embarrassing) if they’re going to make rules for the program!"

    - Unregistered Voter from 26554

  • "I am a native West Virginian, my family has been here for generations. In that time, we have seen a sharp decline in what was an already very poor and backwards state. Big out of state companies would come in take what they wanted from the land and the people and leave us worst than they found us, taking the profits back out of state with them (with the exception of whatever palms were greased to allow them to come here and do this). Here we go again. We have big multi state operators in here suffocating the independent locals, and all the while border states are setting up legal, recreational dispensaries right over state lines so people can go and buy affordable, legal cannabis and return to West Virginia with it. Those are taxable dollars that could have stayed right here, to benefit our state and our people. We are truly cutting our noses off to spite our face. We need cannabis reform here, we can't keep living in the Dark Ages while the states around us move forward. Cannabis is not going away, why not regulate it properly and let it provide some benefit to us, instead of letting people buy it in Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, or any other of many recreational areas, or from criminals on the black market?"

    - Registered Voter from 25168

  • "I'm a medical cannabis dispensary agent with multiple sclerosis. Access to medical cannabis literally stood me up out of my wheelchair and kept me out of association with criminals. I'm so proud my home State is finally considering making these changes. I started one of the first medical cannabis delivery services in 2015 in Los Angeles, California because I was so desperate for my own relief. when the law changed in CA I came home and was glad to see the laws changing here in WV too. thank you for asking these questions and for taking this conversation seriously! it's changed my life and I know it can help West Virginia too (if we proceed carefully and with due diligence)."

    - Registered Voter in 26704

  • "WV needs to allow edible cannabis options. Vaping/smoking is not great for those with lung problems and there is the risk of second hand exposure with smoking."

    - Registered Voter from 24740

  • "Need to protect 2nd amendment rights as well as right to consume cannabis"

    - Unregistered Voter in 25401

  • "For a government that likes to pretend it’s business friendly and anti-regulatory, the hypocrisy on this issue is staggering. I’m not surprised that politicians would be hypocritical, those of both parties and all humans are, I’d just prefer they not gaslight the public in the process."

    - Registered Voter from 26810

  • "I would like to see expanded product offerings and additional qualifying patient conditions, now that program is initially off the ground it would be great to see expanded product offerings and new releases. As well as expanding patient conditions and new patients still joining the state medical program as to slowly incrementally increasing the existing business and access in WV"

    - Registered Voter from 26260

  • "As a patient in multiple states, The lawmakers are a bunch of people who have clue what they’re talking about. They don’t care about patients. They are absolutely greedy scamming lobbyists & it goes under everyones nose. Sick behavior when we’re talking about MEDICAL cannabis in one of the poorest state in america."

    - Registered Voter in 26554

  • "In this current economy, why would WV let dollars go to the surrounding states when they could keep them in state and use that money to fix so many things. Roads, schools, programs for people to move from opioids to cannabis. It would also create so many jobs."

    - Registered Voter from 26003

  • "I know from experience cannabis works for pain relief. My mom has cancer and was in constant debilitating pain and her doctors solution was morphine and pain pills. This of course worked but turned her into someone who just existed she had no quality of life I begged her to try marijuana and her being older she was afraid. Finally she gave in and slowly was able to stop taking pain meds. She now only takes Tylenol for the pain and marijuana has helped breathe new life into her."

    - Registered Voter in 25309

  • "We're losing the economic battle to bordering (competing) states. I'm all for reasonable regulation, but the options in WV dispensaries are severely limited. Just allow the business owners a reasonable way to sell all varieties of product."

    - Registered Voter from 25701

  • "West Virginia is behind the rest of the country on cannabis legalization. Biased reasoning and misinformation have prevented many individuals from enjoying the multitude of benefits that cannabis brings. Recreational cannabis and cultivation should be legalized under similar language as the medical cannabis laws. The only difference being instead of 21 being the required age for Cannabis consumption make it 25."

    - Registered Voter from 26757

  • "Law makers need to listen before its to late. The MMj board doesn't know much about the product they try to control. People are leaving this state and who will be here to make laws for? Wake up WV...vote these people OUT!!"

    - Registered Voter from 26151

  • "WV lawmakers are prohibiting the state and holding it back by not legalizing recreational and expanding the variety of item types available. Edibles are a no go, other than pills or tincture (and the irony of cannabis being made into pills in the epicenter of an opioid epidemic is not lost on me here either.) And as fat and unhealthy as we are as a state (see: that time RFK made fun of Patrick Morrissey by saying he thought he ate the Governor of WV…..) we need more viable options to help keep our lungs healthy as well. Hopefully more education is provided to lawmakers and our Governor and First Lady’s allegiance to Big Pharma doesn’t become an unethical conflict of interest either. I hope lawmakers also know putting it off until 2025 has lost WV citizens, infrastructure, education and healthcare dollars already. My hope is we can use this to help heal our opioid crisis, find relieve from our veterans/other PTSD sufferers, as well as other ailments. Don’t drop the ball like ya’ll have in the past."

    - Registered Voter from 25301

  • "As a patient I've been a huge supporter of the program since it started & want nothing more than to see it succeed but I'm also not afraid to admit I'm one of these patients that is now "forced" to go out of my way to get my meds from other sources. As a disabled patient that doesn't use prescription pharmaceuticals for pain management it's the only way I can guarantee consistent quality meds. The only thing that will improve sales is adding more options/improving strain availability(product diversity) & most of all QUALITY!(MORE QUALITY SOLVENTLESS OPTIONS!) Quality goes down sales go down imo that's what we're seeing. & if the quality isn't up to par adjust the prices to reflect the quality, it's no different than the street, if a dealer continuously takes advantage of you by selling low-grade cannabis at exotic medical prices, only a fool would keep coming back. I'm 35 & I've dabbled in cannabis since middle school & I swear I'm not exaggerating when I say I've been left feeling disappointed & ripped off by WV dispensaries more than any BM dealer in my entire life and it's not even close. WEST VIRGINIA PATIENTS DESERVE BETTER QUALITY AND MORE AVAILABILITY!"

    - Registered Voter from 25064

  • "I am a person who has severe ADHD and OCD. I’ve also experienced plenty of trauma from my childhood. [When I started smoking cannabis] I noticed how it helped me [stay focused]. I continued to smoke as an athlete at the college level and only saw positive outcomes. I was able to focus in class, put outside factors aside, and felt comfortable in my own skin. The people who consume cannabis are looking for a moment of peace from the outside world. If I’m able to go out and buy a gallon of Tito’s because I had a “rough” day, why am I not able to go buy a pack of joints? If we’re going to put such high restriction on cannabis, why not the same with alcohol or vapes? The only difference is social acceptance. We’re okay with seeing humans blacked out drunk in front of kids but smoke a joint, you’re a criminal. I hope West Virginia takes a good look at what their people/ state need and make the choice to legalize it. Stop allowing opioids and alcoholism to run our state and do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    — Registered Voter from 26554

  • "The nation is moving forward on this issue and WV is being left behind. This can be a safe and healthier product for adults to consume than tobacco or alcohol. This would also increase tourism and tax revenue to our state instead of surrounding states."

    - Registered Voter from 26283

  • "The current situation as it pertains to marijuana in WV is unacceptable and must be better! West Virginia must do better!"

    - Unregistered Voter from 25159

  • "I was skeptical about using CBD until it was recommended to me by a relative for insomnia. Since then, I've seen and experienced the advantages of cannabis and hemp products. I fully support medical use of it and have changed my mind about recreational use of cannabis. I feel it's a much better option than opioids for many suffering from chronic pain. Also I am a military veteran, USN 1980-'86"

    - Registered Voter from 25276

  • "I am a disabled senior citizen who relies on marijuana to help me with my medical conditions and I feel that the punishment as a criminal is the most dangerous aspect of using marijuana. I am not a criminal, I am an old person who is capable of making my own health decisions. I don't need the government to be involved in those decisions. I also do not like that there is a monopoly of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state who charge very high prices. These monopolies are the result of corrupt politicians and greedy, unethical business owners who have bought their way into existence."

    - Registered Voter from 26501

  • "Allowing access to edibles is a must for the current program. Edibles are a clean, long lasting alternative for users with chronic pain, PTSD, nausea (caused by cancer treatment), and more. Patients refuse to use capsules/tablets due to the resemblance of pills that they are tired of taking."

    - Unregistered Voter from 26763

  • "We need a complete reform of the office of medical cannabis. We should demand there to be members within the omc that actually do support the program, the voters wishes, and the overall health of their neighbors, friends and family members that also use the benefits of the program that is being limited or eliminated"

    - Registered Voter from 25387

  • "Cheaper, safer options for our people are a must! Chemical/pesticide regulations need to be buckled down on. Prices need to be more fair since insurance can’t cover medical patients. I work in the industry and many of my patients cannot afford to buy the amount of cannabis they NEED because of the outrageous prices. Home cultivation is a must."

    - Registered Voter from 26588

  • "I am in the industry and also a patient myself who suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other things that I use medical cannabis for. It seems that WV lawmakers do not know a whole lot about the product or how much it truly helps people. I see it almost every single day. All the strict rules and regulations make it extremely hard for dispensaries to thrive as well as people to be interested and sign up. People are exposed to so many 'Delta'/ synthetic products from the smoke shops (dangerous) and the sign up process is way too confusing to people, especially older folks. Product testing and regulations need to improve as well. Some WV brands I've had seem moldy or just not right. The argument that names or flavors 'appeal to kids' is ridiculous. Kids are exposed to many things that are not intended for them. For example: alcohol drinks, shows not rated for children, cigarettes, cleaning products, and much more. It's up to the parents to take care of their children. Opening it up would make things so much easier and better for our state. Our roads and many other things need fixed incredibly bad and recreational would absolutely bring in good revenue for West Virginia."

    - Registered Voter from 26554

  • "On a daily basis I talk to someone who has driven to Maryland for cannabis. They say it’s cheaper, more options and just easier to access. I love that WV legalized medical but it seems like it’s been forgotten and now I’m worried it won’t be here at all some day."

    - Registered Voter from 26554

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