West Virginia Medical Cannabis Dispensary Zoning Limits

WV Code §16A-9-1 establishes that local zoning ordinances may not prohibit medical cannabis dispensaries, growers, or processors as a class but may impose location, hours, and structural rules comparable to those for pharmacies. Dispensaries must maintain a minimum 1,000-foot setback from schools and child-care facilities under state rule. The Bureau for Public Health issues a limited number of dispensary permits per region. Local governments may restrict dispensaries to commercial zones and apply standard site plan requirements but cannot enact de facto bans through restrictive overlays.

Dispensaries operating without state permits face license revocation, criminal charges, and civil penalties; municipalities enacting illegal bans risk preemption lawsuits.