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Updated on January 30, 2019. Medical content reviewed by Dr. Richard Koffler, MD, Board Certified Physiatrist
Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program
77 South High Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 1-833-4OH-MMCP (464-6627)
Email: Ohio Medical Marijuana Program
Website: Ohio Medical Marijuana Program
Note from State, on sources for medical marijuana
“The state board of pharmacy has one year from the effective date of the law to adopt rules establishing standards and procedures for the medical marijuana control program, including establishing procedures and fees, setting the number of retail dispensary licenses, patient registration details, and defining 90-day supply,” House Bill 523 [June 08, 2016]
Please note: There is a registration fee of $50 for patients and $25 for caregivers. The fee can be reduced for Veterans or Indigent Status.
The Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry is mandatory and does not accept other state’s registry I.D. cards. Patients will be notified if in the future, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program decides to enter into a reciprocity agreement with any other state(s).
The first dispensary licenses were issued in November 2017 and the official medical marijuana program is expected to be operational in September 2018. In addition, the state of Ohio issued 12 cultivation licenses in Dec 2017 and is expected to issue more licenses.
The application for physicians to become certified to recommend medical marijuana began in March 2018 with the first round of approvals slated for April 2018. So far, the Department Commerce has approved provisional licenses for 24 growers and growing facilities and will continue to issue more dispensary licenses in spring 2018.
The Patient & Caregiver Registry is active as of December 3rd, 2018. Patients and/or caregivers must be entered by a state-approved physician, in to the registry. The state-approved physician must be certified to recommend medical marijuana.
The Ohio Medical Marijuana Program states “Physicians and patients are advised that during the early months of Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program, the industry responsible for growing, producing and testing these products is in start-up phase and may have limited inventory available. Also, not all proposed dispensary locations will be fully licensed and open for business. During this start-up phase, the industry may be unable to provide a full supply of products at all licensed locations until later in 2019.”
On May 10, 2016, House Bill 523, was approved by the House 71-26; and subsequently the Senate 18-15, on May 25, 2016. Ohio Governor, John Kasich, signed the bill on June 08, 2016 — effective September 2016, three months from passage.
House Bill 523, effectively allows for the use of marijuana for medical reasons, while further establishing an Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program.
Under the legislature law, of HB 523, patients diagnosed with one of the following debilitating medical conditions, qualifies for the State’s Medical Marijuana Program:
* Please note: As per HB 523, all physicians choosing to participate in the Ohio medical marijuana program, are required to first obtain a license from the State Medical Board of Ohio prior to evaluating any patients. A complete list of the rules outlining the protocol and requirements for such a license will be developed by September 08, 2017.
In the interim, all patients and parents/guardians of minor patients seeking marijuana for medical use, prior to the implementation of the administrative rules that will govern the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, will be entitled to an affirmative defense for certain marijuana-related crimes. HB 523 allows patients to use an affirmative defense if, among other requirements, the patient has received a written recommendation from a doctor certifying that the patient meets the state’s criteria and requirements.
Furthermore, the State Medical Board of Ohio recommends that all physicians choosing to participate in the OMMP, consult their legal counsel and/or employer for interpretation of the legislation.
House Bill 523, legally allows for a maximum of a 90-day supply of medical marijuana — the specifics of which have yet to be specifically defined, and will be outlined in the rulemaking process. As for cultivation, the state of Ohio chose 11 cultivators in November 2017 to begin producing medical marijuana. The list (according to the Ohio Department of Commerce) includes:
Level I Cultivator Provisional License Recipients:
Level II Cultivator Provisional License Recipients:
* Please note: Smoking is NOT an approved method of delivery, as per HB 523. As per Ohio’s medical marijuana law, “Only the following forms of medical marijuana may be dispensed under this chapter: oils, tinctures, plant material, patches”.
2017 Election Update: Voters in Athens, OH voted on November 7th to remove cannabis possession fines. There was a decriminalization measure up to vote, but unfortunately, the measure did not pass.
In Ohio, telemedicine or Telehealth is the use of electronic communications to provide healthcare services and a host of health-related information including, physical therapy and related information services over small or large distances. Only interactive, synchronous, real-time care is recognized by Ohio’s Medicaid program as telemedicine. No store-and-forward, email/fax/phone or home health monitoring is reimbursed by the program.
Doctors consultations and online prescriptions are covered by Ohio’s telemedicine program, but physicians can only prescribe medication online if there has been a pre-established physician-patient relationship — which can be established through telemedicine. So, consultations for medical marijuana treatment can be initiated via telemedicine.
The State of Ohio has a legalized medical marijuana program, which allows patients to receive a medical marijuana recommendation from a certified physician, and apply for a state-issued Ohio Medical Marijuana Card, permitting the patient to purchase marijuana for medicinal use, as per Ohio state guidelines.
Since the Ohio medical marijuana program is still changing their laws and new Ohio medical marijuana laws are being enacted on a regular basis, please be sure to visit our site frequently to get the most updated laws as it pertains to the Ohio medical marijuana program. Please click a corresponding link to find out more about Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program. We have compiled the following Ohio medical marijuana index of information to serve as a medical library to our users for legal reference of Ohio’s laws, guidelines and program details regarding medical cannabis use in Ohio.
Please note: In order to become a legal medical marijuana patient you must first have a qualifying condition as outlined by the department of health services and/or department of justice. For a comprehensive list of Ohio’s qualifying medical marijuana conditions, please visit our qualifying conditions section located on the top of our menu under “legal states”.
Find out Who Qualifies for Marijuana in Ohio in our definitive guide to Ohio’s qualification guidelines. Read up on medical conditions that are covered under Ohio’s medical marijuana program, age restrictions, criminal conviction restrictions, and more.
Read Ohio’s Full Medical Marijuana Laws to gain full specific knowledge of Ohio’s exact legal guidelines without interpretation.
Find out how to obtain an Ohio Medical Marijuana Card with our guide to Ohio’s state medicinal marijuana ID program. Some states require that you obtain your card prior to obtaining your medicine, so read here first to ensure that you know Ohio’s requirements.
We have an ever-expanding network of licensed and reputable doctors in Ohio who are prepared to help you take care of all your medical marijuana issues. Get in touch with any of these doctors who are based in or near the same community where you reside:
Take advantage of our well-maintained marijuana dispensary directory. It has a list of the dispensaries that have been licensed to sell medical marijuana in Ohio.
With your registry marijuana ID card, you can contact any of these dispensaries and order your prescribed dose of medical cannabis. We provide all the details you need to book an appointment and to request for an order before you go pick it up.
Visit our directory of Ohio marijuana dispensaries to get more details.
Learn more about medical marijuana doctors in Ohio by checking out our listings in your city:
Learn more about dispensaries in Ohio by checking out our listings in your city:
Finally, a helpful & informative website! MarijuanaDoctors.com answered all of my medical marijuana questions and helped me schedule an appointment with an accredited doctor in my area.~Susan - Denver, CO
