Ohio Medical Marijuana Quick Reference Guide: Laws, and More
How To Get A Recommendation From An Ohio Medical Marijuana Doctor
The first step to getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio is to make an in-person appointment with an Ohio medical marijuana doctor.
List of certified Ohio medical marijuana doctors
- The physician must have an active “Certificate to Recommend” (CTR) issued by the State Medical Board of Ohio.
- The patient must supply the recommending physician with a valid Ohio driver’s license, or a valid Ohio identification card issued by the Ohio bureau of motor vehicles (BMV), or a valid United States passport showing Ohio residency.
- The physician must confirm the patient is suffering from one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions and that the patient’s condition can benefit from the use of medical marijuana. (See the list below.)
- Ohio medical marijuana patients who are unable to acquire or administer medical marijuana may appoint a caregiver.**
- If the patient is approved, the recommending physician will submit their recommendation to the Ohio medical marijuana Patient Registry.
- An in-person visit with a medical marijuana doctor is required at least once per year.*
- *On March 18, 2020, the State Medical Board of Ohio voted to allow the use of telemedicine for licensees during the COVID-19 pandemic. These emergency measures allow potential patients to use audio or video conferencing to meet with a medical marijuana doctor for both initial recommendations and renewals for an Ohio medical marijuana card. Click here for more information on the use of telemedicine for Ohio medical marijuana patients.
- **On March 23, 2020, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy adopted a temporary process to register new caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more information.
Qualifying medical conditions for an Ohio medical marijuana card:
- AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
- Parkinson’s disease
- Positive status for HIV
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Sickle cell anemia
- Spinal cord disease or injury
- Tourette syndrome
- Traumatic brain injury
- Ulcerative colitis
How to get an Ohio medical marijuana card
- Once an Ohio-certified medical marijuana doctor has entered a patient or caregiver into the registry, the patient/caregiver will receive an email prompting them to log in to the Ohio medical marijuana Patient Registry to complete their registration.
- In order to maintain a valid Ohio medical marijuana card, patients must pay an annual registration fee of $50 ($25 for caregivers). However, patients who qualify for indigent or veteran status may be eligible for fee reductions.
Medical marijuana dispensaries in Ohio
- Patients and caregivers holding a current Ohio medical marijuana card and valid I.D. may purchase medicine from any licensed Ohio medical marijuana dispensary. Dispensary staff will counsel patients and caregivers on the appropriate delivery method and dosage for the patient’s condition.
What Cannabis Products Are Allowed In Ohio?
Qualified patients with a medical card are allowed to purchase up to a 90-day supply of medicine, however only certain forms of cannabis are allowed under the rules.
Permitted forms of medical marijuana in Ohio include:
- Inhalation of marijuana through a vaporizer (not direct smoking)
- Oils
- Tinctures
- Plant material
- Edibles
- Patches
The State Board of Pharmacy has the authority to approve other methods should it so choose in the future.
There are no social consumption venues in Ohio, and the consumption of these products in public places is illegal. This pretty much restricts use to private residences.
Ohio medical marijuana patient possession limits
- Medical marijuana doctors in Ohio can recommend up to a 90-day supply of medical marijuana with three refills (total 360-day supply). For more information on how a 90-day supply is calculated, click here.
What About Recreational Marijuana In Ohio?
A voter initiative known as the Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative may appear on the statewide ballot in Ohio on November 5. Proponents of the measure filed the initiative as the “Marijuana Rights and Regulations Amendment” because the proposal calls for what known as an initiated constitutional amendment. If passed the measure would legalize the use, possession, and sale of marijuana for all persons age 21 or older in Ohio, and would authorize the Ohio General Assembly to enact a tax on retail sales of marijuana.