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Updated on January 25, 2019. Medical content reviewed by Dr. Joseph Rosado, MD, M.B.A, Chief Medical Officer
June 08, 2016, Ohio Governor, John Kasich, signed House Bill 523 — effective September 2016 — effectively allowing for the use of marijuana for medical reasons, in addition to also establishing an Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, to administer and oversee the operation of the state’s program.
Additionally, HB 523, allows for the legal possession of a maximum of a 90-day supply of cannabis, by a qualified patient — the definition of which will be specifically defined in the upcoming rulemaking process.
*Please note: Ohio has not approved smoking as a legal method of delivery — the only methods approved for delivery in Ohio, under this chapter, are oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles, and patches.
OHIO MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONTROL PROGRAM — HOUSE BILL NO. 523
(131st General Assembly) (Substitute House Bill Number 523)
AN ACT
To amend sections of the Revised Code to authorize the use of marijuana for medical purposes and to establish the Medical Marijuana Control Program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
SECTION 1 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 109.572. (A)(1) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 121.08, 3301.32, 3301.541, or 3319.39 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11,
2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, or a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense;
(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(1)(a) of this section;
(c) If the request is made pursuant to section 3319.39 of the Revised Code for an applicant who is a teacher, any offense specified in section 3319.31 of the Revised Code.
(2) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 3712.09 or 3721.121 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check with respect to any person who has applied for employment in a position for which a criminal records check is required by those sections. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.12, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.40, 2913.43, 2913.47, 2913.51, 2919.25, 2921.36, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;
(b) An existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United
States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(2)(a) of this section.
(3) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 173.27, 173.38, 173.381, 3701.881, 5164.34, 5164.341, 5164.342, 5123.081, or 5123.169 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check of the person for whom the request is made. The superintendent shall conduct the criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of, has pleaded guilty to, or (except in the case of a request pursuant to section 5164.34, 5164.341, or 5164.342 of the Revised Code) has been found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction for any of the following, regardless of the date of the conviction, the date of entry of the guilty plea, or (except in the case of a request pursuant to section 5164.34, 5164.341, or 5164.342 of the Revised Code) the date the person was found eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction:
(a) A violation of section 959.13, 959.131, 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2903.34, 2903.341, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.12, 2905.32, 2905.33, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2907.33, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.04, 2909.22, 2909.23, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.05, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32, 2913.40, 2913.41, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.441, 2913.45, 2913.46, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.49, 2913.51, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.12, 2919.121, 2919.123, 2919.22, 2919.23, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2921.03, 2921.11, 2921.12, 2921.13, 2921.21, 2921.24, 2921.32, 2921.321, 2921.34, 2921.35, 2921.36, 2921.51, 2923.12, 2923.122, 2923.123, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2923.162, 2923.21, 2923.32, 2923.42, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.041, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2925.09, 2925.11, 2925.13, 2925.14, 2925.141, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.36, 2925.55, 2925.56, 2927.12, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code;
(c) A violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;
(d) A violation of section 2923.01, 2923.02, or 2923.03 of the Revised Code when the underlying offense that is the object of the conspiracy, attempt, or complicity is one of the offenses listed in divisions (A)(3)(a) to (c) of this section;
(e) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in divisions (A)(3)(a) to (d) of this section.
(4) On receipt of a request pursuant to section 2151.86 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 959.13, 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.22, 2909.23, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2913.49, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, 2927.12, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, two or more OVI or OVUAC violations committed within the three years immediately preceding the submission of the application or petition that is the basis of the request, or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code;
(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses listed in division (A)(4)(a) of this section.
(5) Upon receipt of a request pursuant to section 5104.013 of the Revised Code, a completed form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section, and a set of fingerprint impressions obtained in the manner described in division (C)(2) of this section, the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner described in division (B) of this section to determine whether any information exists that indicates that the person who is the subject of the request has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the following:
(a) A violation of section 2151.421, 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.16, 2903.21, 2903.22, 2903.34, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.05, 2905.11, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06, 2907.07, 2907.08, 2907.09, 2907.19, 2907.21, 2907.22, 2907.23, 2907.24, 2907.25, 2907.31, 2907.32, 2907.321, 2907.322, 2907.323, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.04, 2909.05, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.041, 2913.05, 2913.06, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32, 2913.33, 2913.34, 2913.40, 2913.41, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.441, 2913.45, 2913.46, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.49, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.12, 2919.22, 2919.224, 2919.225, 2919.24, 2919.25, 2921.03, 2921.11, 2921.13, 2921.14, 2921.34, 2921.35, 2923.01, 2923.12, 2923.13, 2923.161, 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, 2925.06, or 3716.11 of the Revised Code, felonious sexual penetration in violation of former section 2907.12 of the Revised Code, a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, a violation of section 2919.23 of the Revised Code that would have been a violation of section 2905.04 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996, had the violation been committed prior to that date, a violation of section 2925.11 of the Revised Code that is not a minor drug possession offense, a violation of section 2923.02 or 2923.03 of the Revised Code that relates to a crime specified in this division, or a second violation of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code within five years of the date of application for licensure or certification.
(b) A violation of an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to any of the offenses or violations described in division (A)(5)(a) of this section.
READ MORE — HOUSE BILL 523 “Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program” [FULL TEXT]
Ohio’s “Telemedicine Certificate” Chapter 4731-11-09 of the Administrative Code — effective September 29, 2015 — defines the “practice of telemedicine” as “the practice of medicine in this state through the use of any communication, including oral, written, or electronic communication, by a physician located outside this state”; and requires that any person who intends to practice telemedicine in the State of Ohio, must first file an application with the state medical board, and hold a valid and current Ohio medical license — as per division (D) of section 4731.29 of the Revised Code — while complying with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04.
Ohio’s “Telemedicine” Chapter 5160-1-18 — effective January 02, 2015 — defines “telemedicine” as the “direct delivery of services to a patient via synchronous, interactive, real-time electronic communication that comprises both audio and video elements” (telemedicine does not include the delivery of service by electronic mail, telephone or facsimile transmission).
Ohio has a progress telemedicine program, that includes behavioral health services, pharmacological management, and school-based speech therapy.
Effective January 01, 2015, Ohio Medicaid recognizes and reimburses, live-video telemedicine services — store-and-forward technology and home health monitoring, not included.
Ohio has some of the least-restrictive policies for out-of-state physicians, not having yet joined, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. At this time, Ohio allows out-of-state health care practitioners, to practice telemedicine in the state, after obtaining a special telemedicine permit from the State Medical Board of Ohio — practitioners may choose, but are not currently required, to obtain a full Ohio licensure, to provide telemedicine services to patients, geographically situated in Ohio.
Ohio law requires that all health care practitioners establish a physician-patient relationship, before diagnosing and/or treating, a patient via telemedicine. A physician-patient relationship can be established through an in-person physical examination of the patient and a review of the patient’s medical history. There is an expectation that the physician reviewing the patient to determine if they are eligible for telemedicine will be providing care on an ongoing basis. Health care practitioners are required to document and record the patient’s informed consent.
Offense |
Penalty |
Incarceration |
Max. Fine |
Possession |
|||
| Less than 100 g | Misdemeanor | N/A | $ 150 |
| 100 – 200 g | Misdemeanor | 30 days | $ 250 |
| 200 – 1,000 g | Felony | 1 year | $ 2,500 |
| 1,000 – 20,000 g | Felony | 1 – 5 years | $ 10,000 |
| 20,000 – 40,000 g | Felony | 5* – 8 years | $ 15,000 |
| More than 40,000 g | Felony | 8 years* | $ 20,000 |
| * Mandatory minimum sentence | |||
Sale/Distribution/Trafficking |
|||
| A gift of 20 g or less (first offense) | Misdemeanor | N/A | $ 150 |
| A gift of 20 g or less (second offense) | Misdemeanor | 60 days | $ 500 |
| Less than 200 g | Felony | 1 year | $ 2,500 |
| 200 – 1,000 g | Felony | 18 months | $ 2,500 |
| 1,000 – 20,000 g | Felony | 1 – 5 years | $ 10,000 |
| 20,000 – 40,000 g | Felony | 5* – 8 years | $ 15,000 |
| More than 40,000 g | Felony | 8 years* | $ 20,000 |
| To a minor, within 1000 feet of a school, within 100 feet of a juvenile, or by one who has a previous drug conviction will increase the term of imprisonment and the fine. | |||
| * Mandatory minimum sentence | |||
Cultivation |
|||
| See Possession | |||
Hash & Concentrates |
|||
| Possession of less than 5g/1g (solid/liquid) | Misdemeanor | N/A | $ 150 |
| Possession of 5g/1g – 10g/2g (solid/liquid) | Misdemeanor | 30 days | $ 250 |
| Possession of 10g/2g – 50g/10g (solid/liquid) | Felony | 1 year | $ 2,500 |
| Possession of 50g/10g – 1,000g/200g (solid/liquid) | Felony | 3 years | $ 10,000 |
| Possession of 1,000g/200g (solid/liquid) or more | Felony | 8 years | $ 15,000 |
| Selling less than 10g/2g (solid/liquid) | Felony | 1 year | $ 2,500 |
| Selling 10g/2g – 50g/10g (solid/liquid) | Felony | 18 months | $ 5,000 |
| Selling 50g/10g – 1,000g/200g (solid/liquid) | Felony | 3 years | $ 10,000 |
| Selling 1,000g/200g (solid/liquid) or more | Felony | 8 years | $ 15,000 |
| Manufacture | Felony | 8 years | $ 15,000 |
Paraphernalia |
|||
| Possession of paraphernalia | Misdemeanor | N/A | $ 150 |
| Sale of paraphernalia | Misdemeanor | 90 days | $ 750 |
Miscellaneous |
|||
| Any drug conviction (including a paraphernalia conviction) may result in a driver’s license suspension for a period of 6 months – 5 years. | |||
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
