Frequently Asked Questions

 Patient Questions

 How do I get an Ohio medical marijuana card?

If you are an Ohio resident and have a qualifying medical condition, you will be eligible to apply for an Ohio medical marijuana card. You’ll need to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation from a registered physician and submit a patient application to the State Board of Pharmacy. The registration process has yet to begin at this time, but we’ll keep this page updated as more information becomes available.

 What are the qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in Ohio?

Patients diagnosed with any of the following conditions are eligible to apply for an OH medical marijuana card:

• AIDS
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• 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’s syndrome
• traumatic brain injury
• ulcerative colitis

 What is a caregiver?

A caregiver is a person who provides basic assistance to a medical marijuana patient. This often involves helping the patient obtain and administer their medicine, but can involve any number of other activities in which the patient may require some additional support due to their medical condition. Under Ohio law, the patient may designate a caregiver who may visit the dispensary and make purchases on the patient’s behalf.

 How do I appoint a caregiver?

The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program will be announcing the process for caregiver registration. We’ll keep this page updated as more information becomes available.

 Are patients permitted to cultivate medical marijuana?

No. Ohio’s medical marijuana law does not permit home cultivation.

 How much medical marijuana are patients permitted to purchase?

Patients may purchase up to a 90-day supply at the dispensary. Under Ohio law, this is defined as follows:

• Up to eight ounces (two hundred twenty-six and eight-tenths grams) of tier I medical marijuana (testing at 23% THC or less).
• Up to five and three-tenths ounces (one hundred fifty and three-tenths grams) of tier II medical marijuana (testing over 23% THC).
• Up to twenty-six and fifty-five-hundredths grams of THC content in patches for transdermal administration or lotions, creams, or ointments for topical administration.
• Up to nine and nine-tenths grams of THC content in oil, tincture, capsule, or edible form for oral administration.
• Up to fifty-three and one-tenths grams of THC content in medical marijuana oil for vaporization.

 Will Ohio dispensaries accept medical cards from other states?

Ohio’s Department of Pharmacy will seek to negotiate reciprocity agreements with other medical marijuana states whose medical marijuana programs are similar to Ohio’s.

 What medical marijuana products are permitted in Ohio?

A variety of products are available to Ohio patients including oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles and patches. Please note that medical marijuana will not be available in smoked form in Ohio.

 General Questions

 I’ve never been to a medical marijuana dispensary. How does it work?

A medical marijuana dispensary is a simple, secure facility designed to provide access for patients to receive their medicine in a safe, welcoming environment. Qualified patients or their caregivers must present their state-issued ID cards at the door. No one else is permitted to enter the establishment other than registered employees attending to the facility. Once inside, visitors are greeted by a friendly staff who are happy to answer questions about the medicine and to help the patient make decisions based on their individual health needs. The patient or caregiver then makes their selection, purchases the medicine, and exits. Security staff monitor events inside and outside the facility.

 What does the science say about medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana has been studied extensively by the scientific community and a great deal is known about the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant. Americans for Safe Access has some great resources available online for patients and doctors who want to learn more about the science of medical marijuana, including a selection of booklets on the use of medical marijuana to treat specific conditions. We also recommend this article by Dr. Sanjay Gupta at CNN who writes about how he became a strong supporter of medical marijuana after researching the issue in depth.

 Where does the marijuana come from?

All medical marijuana is produced in Ohio at one of a few licensed cultivation centers. These facilities are carefully regulated by the State Board of Pharmacy and must follow strict guidelines to ensure product safety. Dispensaries may not acquire marijuana products from any source other than the licensed and regulated facilities.

 How will my privacy be protected?

Patient records will be maintained by your doctor and the State Board of Pharmacy. Strict rules protect the privacy of these records, including the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Your identity and patient status in the medical marijuana program may never be disclosed to anyone without your prior authorization. We take patient privacy very seriously are will gladly answer any questions or concerns you have about this important issue.