On September 8, 2018, the state of Ohio enacted a workable medical marijuana law. After almost 20 years of lobbying from the state patient community and the Marijuana Policy Project, House Bill 523 got signed into law. This made Ohio the 25th state in the United States to adopt a law that legalizes marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Federal law still prohibits marijuana use for any reason, but some states have taken steps to legalize it. The Ohio Medical Marijuana program has its own unique rules that a patient needs to know before exploring this herbal alternative.

If you are a patient who is eyeing marijuana as a means of treating a specific illness, here are the rules you need to know before applying for a medical marijuana license.

1.Qualifying Conditions

The state of Ohio included specific qualifying conditions in the medical marijuana program. These include significant illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, diseases of the nervous system such as epilepsy, seizure disorders, spinal cord diseases, and traumatic brain injuries are falling under the qualifying conditions. Moreover, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Crohn’s disease are also drops into the list.

A patient must be clinically diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition to receive a recommendation from a state-approved doctor. A marijuana network can provide a list of qualified doctors within the state who can carefully and sympathetically assess a patient’s condition. It eases the stress of looking for a doctor who would understand what a patient is going through.

Ohio requires a face-to-face physical examination. The physician and the patient must have an understanding that their relationship will be ongoing throughout the treatment. It ensures consistency and proper disease management.

2.Permitted Forms of Marijuana

Marijuana has many forms, whether raw or processed. The Ohio Medical Marijuana Program does not allow direct smoking in whatever venue. It only allows direct inhalation through a vaporizer. Other allowable forms are edibles, patches, tinctures, plant materials, and oils. The State Board of Pharmacy may approve other forms if needed.

3.Limits on Possession

The collective inquiry from patients is the amount of marijuana that can be purchased and possessed at a time. It is an important rule to consider since excess amounts can lead to harsh penalties or revocation of license.

According to the Administrative Code, a patient can purchase 90-day worth of supply in various forms. A patient can mix and match marijuana forms as long as the total prescribed weight gets complied with. A dispensary pharmacist can guide the patient in making a dosage plan.

The Ohio State Pharmacy Board studied the following amounts carefully based on the allowable amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) strains. THC is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana that needs to be regulated.

Here are the maximum allowable amounts and their forms:

●26 grams of THC in topical materials (lotion, cream, patch or ointment)
●9 grams of THC in oral materials (oil, capsule, edible or tincture)
●8 ounces of tier one plant material
●5 ounces of tier two plant material
●53 mg of THC in vaporizer oil

Ohio may have faced many hurdles before the passing of the medical marijuana law. But for patients who are seeking alternative healing, it is worth the wait. As with any privilege, there are specific responsibilities that need to follow. It will ensure a smooth implementation of the law, which will benefit more patients until the future generation.