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Ohio
Medical Marijuana Card
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Do you qualify for an Ohio Medical Marijuana Card? And, if so, what can you do with one? These are typical questions you may be asking yourself after learning about Ohio medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana is becoming more and more popular in Ohio, and the Ohio Medical Marijuana Program has made it much easier to obtain one. Eventually, it will take less than two weeks to get an appointment after your application.
An MMJ card enables patients to possess and use medical marijuana and grants them access to dispensaries and delivery services throughout the state.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio
To get your medical marijuana card in Ohio, you must see a medical marijuana doctor and receive a recommendation for medical marijuana.
Next, you have to sign up with an approved medical marijuana dispensary. Once you are signed up with a dispensary, you can purchase your medical marijuana from them.
Getting approved for medical marijuana can be a long and confusing process. Here’s how getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio works:
Book an Appointment
Book an appointment either by with a phone call or online through the state’s official website.
Pre-approval is mandatory for those seeking a medical marijuana consultation. Without it, you will not be able to obtain a prescription from a licensed Ohio physician.
Consult with a Doctor
Your physician will determine whether you qualify for medical marijuana use and, if so, what your prescription will look like. If they decide that you’re qualified, they must issue a certification form and a written treatment plan.
The certification process ensures the medical marijuana patient’s physician is knowledgeable about medical marijuana and understands their medical history and medical records.
Get Approved
When a patient is approved for medical marijuana, their physician will issue a registration certificate that authorizes them to purchase medical marijuana from a one of Ohio’s dispensaries.
Patients must submit their certification form and written treatment plan to a dispensary. Once they do so, the dispensary can dispense medical marijuana to them as long as their physician certifies the treatment.
The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP) then reviews the certification form and written treatment plan. If the patient’s physician does not define the treatment plan as medically necessary, the OMMCP will deny the application.
Upon approval by your doctor, you will receive your medical marijuana card through email from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
Ohio Medical Marijuana Card Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age; if under 18, you must have a caregiver who is at least 21 years of age
- Proof of Ohio residency
- A valid driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or passport
- A letter from your doctor stating you are eligible for the Ohio Medical Marijuana Program
- A doctor’s letter confirming that your chronic or debilitating medical condition is treatable with medical marijuana and that you are registered in the Ohio Prescription Monitoring Program
Qualifying Conditions
The Ohio Medical Board must approve each patients’ conditions or symptoms. There are currently 25 conditions eligible for marijuana treatment, and that list expands every year.
Ohio state law allows for the use of medical marijuana in very specific and limited circumstances. If you are suffering from one of the conditions listed below, you may qualify for a medical marijuana card:
AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Cancer, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Crohn’s Disease, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, Hepatitis C, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, multiple sclerosis. Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, ulcerative colitis, traumatic brain injury, Tourette’s Syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, HIV, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Sickle Cell Anemia, Spinal Cord Disease, or physical injury.
Medical Marijuana Laws in Ohio
In November 2012, Ohioans legalized medical marijuana statewide with a house bill officially called the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. It took effect on March 23, 2016.
As a result, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMP) now permit the cultivation, processing, and sale of cannabis products.
Possession and Cultivation Limits
Patients can possess up to 90 days-worth of marijuana. However, note that that limit depends on what type of medical marijuana card you have.
If you are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, ALS, cancer, or another medical condition that Ohio says can be treated using medical marijuana, you are exempt from that law regarding cannabis possession in small amounts.
Your legal possession limit is higher if you have an Ohio medical marijuana card. Those patients can possess up to eight ounces in public and up to 24 ounces in private spaces.
If you are diagnosed with a medical condition that’s not on the official list, your possession limit is lower. Ohio also limits possession for those patients who don’t have an Ohio medical marijuana card.
Grow Limits
A patient registry ID card grants patients or caregivers the freedom to grow their own medical marijuana or purchase it at dispensaries in cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus.
Ohio Public Consumption Laws
Ohio prohibits consumption in public. Your medical marijuana must only be used privately. Because cannabis is illegal at the federal level, you cannot use it in federally funded housing, courthouses, or national parks.
Be sure to carry your medical marijuana card if you have medical cannabis on you.
Ohio Cannabis DUI Laws
In Ohio, driving while under the influence of marijuana is a drugged driving offense. Driving constitutes your implied consent to be tested by the state. For urine and blood, the legal THC limit is 10 ng/ml and 2 ng/ml, respectively.
When they believe a driver is under the influence, law enforcement officials have the authority to detain that person. Plan alternate means of transportation if you’re going to use medical marijuana.
Dispensaries in Ohio
Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program is tightly regulated. The Ohio Department of Commerce, in conjunction with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, provides approved Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) that process patient applications.
The first medical marijuana dispensaries opened their doors in April of 2014. Ohioans with qualifying medical conditions may now apply for a registry identification card.
Where Can You Buy Ohio Medical Marijuana?
There are 58 dispensaries operating in Ohio as of August 2022. The Board of Pharmacy issues licenses and enforces regulations for each facility. They have to abide by the Medical Marijuana Control Program’s regulations. Only goods made from cannabis plants that have been grown safely are sold in Ohio dispensaries.
The state of Ohio offers the following dispensaries:
- Bloom Medicinals in Akron
- Harvest of Athens in Athens
- Zen Leaf in Bowling Green
- The Botanist in Canton
- Zen Leaf in Cincinnati
- Sunnyside in Cincinnati
- RISE in Cleveland
- Bloom Medicinals in Columbus
- Strawberry Fields in Columbus
- Pure Ohio Wellness in Dayton
- Body and Mind in Elyria
- Verilife in Hillsboro
- RISE in Lakewood
- Ethos in Lebanon
- Curaleaf in Newark
- The Forest in Sandusky
- Terrasana in Springfield
- RISE in Toledo
- Ohio Valley Natural Relief in Wintersville
Frequently Asked Questions
An Ohio Medical Marijuana Card is a legal document that enables you to purchase and possess marijuana products such as edibles, tinctures, topicals, and concentrates in the State of Ohio.
With an Ohio Medical Marijuana Card, you get to enjoy the rights and benefits of the state’s marijuana laws. The card is an identification document that states that you are a patient duly registered by the State Board of Pharmacy.
The card’s benefits include treatment, access to dispensaries, legal protection, and access to dispensaries outside of Ohio. Medical marijuana cards are very important because they protect both the patient and the caregiver, ensuring only deserving patients receive medicinal cannabis.
The amount that Ohio medical marijuana cards cost varies according to the patient in question.
The fee for a card ranges from $50 to $90 depending on the type of documentation submitted. Patients who only already have personal identification and only need the state-issued ID need only pay $25.
Without personal ID, the total cost will likely fall between $50 and $60. You will also have to pay the state $50 every year to renew your card.
Note that there are also fees if you replace your caregiver.
Finally, you must pay a separate fee to the marijuana dispensary where you plan to pick up your medication.
No, you do not have to be a resident of Ohio to obtain a card.
If you are at least 18 years old and a legal resident of another state, you may apply for your Ohio Medical Marijuana Card.
However, there is one requirement: Your home state must recognize the Ohio Marijuana Registry Program (OMMP).
Yes, but only if you are their legal dependent.
A caregiver must be at least 21 years old and can assist no more than five patients at a time. Both the Ohio patient and caregiver should submit state applications.
Conclusion
It is illegal for anyone without a card to grow, possess, or distribute medical marijuana in the state of Ohio.
Before applying for one, make sure you refer back to this article so you’re knowledgeable about Ohio’s medical cannabis laws and the process of obtaining a card.
