Top 3 conditions to get a medical marijuana card in OHIO: Chronic Pain, PTSD, and TBI
Medical marijuana in Ohio seems to have many medicinal superpowers. Three of the most important of those are its ability to relieve pain, it’s unparalleled safety and effectiveness in reducing anxiety. Cannabis also has an amazing capacity to protect the brain and repair neurons. In exploring the top medical conditions to get medical marijuana in Ohio, we take a look at some of the scientific evidence for the use of medical marijuana to treat chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) to help Ohioans suffering from these 3 conditions get a medical marijuana card in Ohio.
Medical Marijuana In Ohio
Did you know that Ohio was the sixth U.S. state to decriminalize the possession of marijuana? This goes all the way back in 1975. It was another 40 years before medical patients would see the state legalize medical marijuana.
By 2015, a whopping 90 percent of Ohioans were in favor of legalizing medicinal marijuana. The first attempt to actually do so failed, however. A voter initiative known as Issue 3 was put on the ballot in an attempt to legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational use. Unfortunately, the measure was ill-conceived for a number of reasons we won’t get into and was summarily defeated.
But it didn’t end there. Although the initiative failed, lawmakers in the state realized that the people were demanding cannabis policy reforms. But they wanted good legislation. And that’s what they got.
In June of 2016, the Ohio legislature passed bill HB 523. It was signed into law by the governor paving the way for the creation of a legally regulated medical marijuana market in Ohio. The bill gave lawmakers two years, until September 2018, to draft the rules. Although sales were originally scheduled to begin in September of 2018, the program wasn’t officially launched until 2019.
Today, Ohio’s medical marijuana patients may purchase their medicine at a number of licensed OH Dispensaries across the state.
A wide array of qualifying conditions and medical effects
The evidence for marijuana’s medicinal benefits is overwhelming. And it has been for quite some time. In fact, back in 2003, the United States government actually filed a patent on the use of cannabinoids to treat a diverse list of ailments.
The patent claims:
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties… This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants. For example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.
The full list of Ohio’s qualifying conditions originally included a wide range of maladies, plus additional conditions were added to the list in the Spring of 2020.
Today, included among the list of qualifying conditions in Ohio are diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), epilepsy, and a number of others.
In order to illustrate the wide range of benefits offered by medical marijuana, we’re going to talk about the top three of Ohio’s qualifying conditions in particular:
Chronic Pain – Medical Marijuana For Treating Chronic Pain Plus The Best Strains For It
PTSD – Getting The Right Medical Marijuana Strains In Ohio For Treating PTSD
TBI – Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries With Legal Cannabis In Ohio
Why just three? Although each of those conditions has a different cause and a different pathology, interestingly, the mechanisms by which marijuana affects each of these conditions are varied. Ohio MMJ Doctors that certify patients daily have reported that these are the most common reasons for people to get their Ohio marijuana card.
The differences can be attributed to two factors. The first is that cannabis produced a number of biologically active compounds, most importantly cannabinoids and terpenes. The second is that each of these compounds affects the human body in a variety of ways.
The most common cannabinoids are THC and CBD, and both affect the body differently. Meanwhile, there are scores of terpenes, another class of oily compounds found in cannabis. And each of them also has its own unique set of effects on the human body.
How to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio
The first step in obtaining a medical marijuana card in Ohio is to visit a state-certified physician. He or she will confirm that you are suffering from one of the qualifying medical conditions.
Once approved by a doctor, patients must complete their registration through the OMMCP Patient & Caregiver Registry. Your doctor will explain the process in detail.
Assuming your application is approved, a medical marijuana card will be mailed to you. There is a $50 registration fee.
For a patient under the age of 18, the process must be initiated by a parent or guardian. Furthermore, patients who cannot obtain or administer their own medicine can designate a caregiver.
Once you have your card you’ll be able to purchase up to a 90-day supply of medical marijuana products at any Ohio medical marijuana dispensary.
Approved medical marijuana products in Ohio include dried flower for smoking, vaping, or cooking, as well as vape oils, tinctures, edibles, patches, and topicals.
Also, while hemp CBD is legal in most states, be aware that Ohio is one of the few states which includes hemp CBD under its marijuana laws. That being said, CBD is easy to find outside of a dispensary, and being hassled by law enforcement for possessing CBD is highly unlikely.
Nonetheless, when it comes to treating chronic pain, PTSD, and TBI, a combination of THC and CBD is recommended and can only be purchased with a medical marijuana card at an Ohio medical marijuana dispensary.
Get or Renew Your Ohio Medical Marijuana Card
For Ohio residents, we make it easy to connect with a certified recommending doctor to get or renew your Medical Marijuana Card.
To get started, simply fill out the patient registration form below, press submit, and your on your way to a MedCard telemedicine doctors appointment online. See if you qualify today!
Patient Registration Form
Links and resources:
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Ohio Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules
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Medical marijuana in Ohio: What the law allows and prohibits
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NORML – Ohio: Limited Medical Cannabis Access Begins
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Medical cannabis for chronic pain
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Cannabis: A potential efficacious intervention for PTSD or simply snake oil?
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Endocannabinoids: A Promising Impact for Traumatic Brain Injury