It’s already been a year since Ohio started its journey to legalize marijuana for medical purposes and it is still considered a controversial decision, with unknown implications. Making Ohio medical marijuana use legal seems far-fetched to people who worry about the criminal implications of this substance. Yet, it\u2019s one of the oldest known medicinal plants. Historical records mention it as early as 5000 years ago for treating conditions like rheumatism and gout. Ancient Greeks used it against inflammation and to sooth horses after battles (<\/span>1<\/span><\/a>). The recreational dimension has its roots in India where it was smoked to induce a trance state, perfect for mystical and religious worshipping. Medical marijuana may help alleviate pain, decrease anxiety, or have a calming effect.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, the main question is: are there any notable differences between recreational and medical marijuana?<\/span><\/p>\n As you can see, there are plenty of differences between medical and recreational marijuana, but these are related to the legal implications and ways you can enjoy their benefits. There is no one strain of cannabis that is classified as better than the others. All of them should be regarded as different tools for different needs. Depending on the condition you want to use them for, some strains are better for you, but that by no means makes them the best. If you are not a certified professional, restrain from recommending marijuana-based products to other people, even if they have the same qualifying condition.<\/span><\/p>\n Ohio is walking the long road towards legalizing marijuana. The first notable change since 1975 was when it was decriminalized in September 2016 by House Bill 523, which is expected to become fully operational by September 2018 (<\/span>2<\/span><\/a>). The implementation process is two years long because it is heavily regulated to prevent abuse and misuse.<\/span><\/p>\n The legal provisions only address patients with certain conditions that could benefit from using marijuana products at the recommendation of a certified physician. If you are a resident of Ohio and are looking to include this in your treatment plan, you must =obtain a marijuana patient card, which will come at a cost and have an expiry date, usually 12 months. Currently, cards issued by other states are not recognized in Ohio, but a future reciprocity agreement could become active.<\/span><\/p>\n Since this is just the first step and lawmakers are trying to find the best way to control and keep track of its usage, it is forbidden to grow marijuana, even for personal or household use. The Department of Commerce and State Board of Pharmacy are working together to create guidelines and requirements for industrial growers and dispensaries to ensure quality and quantity. <\/span><\/p>\n Medical marijuana will be available in Ohio for patients suffering from qualifying conditions. State officials estimate the percentage of possible users to be between<\/span> .04 percent (5,150 users) and .44 percent (51,500 people) of the state\u2019s population, but experts think it could be significantly higher, reaching 24% (<\/span>3<\/span><\/a>). This is due to the inclusion of \u201cchronic pain\u201d on the list, which can have modifications.<\/span><\/p>\n The current list includes 21 conditions. Some of the qualifying conditions are chronic and can include terminal stages. If you or a loved one are suffering from one of the following, you could increase the quality of your life by finding the right, accepted product derived from medical marijuana.<\/span><\/p>\n The conditions currently accepted are:<\/span><\/p>\n The initial petition included other conditions like <\/span>autism with aggressive or self-injurious behavior, muscular dystrophy, cachexia or wasting syndrome, Huntington’s disease, and severe and persistent muscle spasms, but these did not make it into the initial selection. They could be added later by the Ohio Medical Board (<\/span>4<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n Medical marijuana will be strictly regulated and only available based on a patient\u2019s card at dispensaries. The current program has divided the state into four broad areas. Each of these has sub-divisions and a designated number of clinics proportional to the estimated patient population, the total number of inhabitants, and their closeness to major roadways. The total number of dispensaries so far is valued at 60: 10 for the northwest region, 18 in the northeast, 17 in southeast and 15 in the southwest (<\/span>5<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n When visiting a dispensary, be sure to have a valid ID card or driver\u2019s license and the recommendation you got from your doctor. Since there are a lot of strains and products to choose from, be open about your condition, symptoms, and medical background. The staff members (called budtenders) will recommend products that are crafted specifically to your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, there is no operating dispensary in Ohio, since the program is still waiting for legal approvals and guidelines. When the dispensaries are ready to receive clients, you will be able to locate your nearest one online.<\/span><\/p>\n The official timeline designates September 8, 2018 as when the medical marijuana program will be fully operational. By that time, dispensaries should be open and you can expect to be able to get your recommended amount. Of course, this implies that both doctors and producers will be certified and that patient cards will be issued by that time. These steps seem to be behind schedule at the moment.<\/span><\/p>\n Doctors are still waiting for the Ohio Medical Board and their employers to be allowed to recommend medical marijuana. As a potential patient, be ready for a paper-intensive process, which asks you to produce qualifying medical records from the last 12 months. <\/span><\/p>\n While a layman may only picture a joint when someone says \u201cmarijuana,\u201d the reality is that there are countless ways of consuming your recommended amount of active components. In fact, smoking is the only form of consumption that is not allowed, and you could be charged for it.<\/span><\/p>\n However, there are other ways of consuming your dose in safe and even delicious ways:<\/span><\/p>\n Using cannabis products for children and teenagers is considered controversial, and the law explicitly bans creating products that could be regarded as attractive by children. Currently, this definition needs to be further explained, and a commission is working on it.<\/span><\/p>\n In the states where medical marijuana is legal and used to treat people under 18 years old, the most common applications are related to epilepsy episodes and other types of seizures. End-of-life care for patients with cancer also qualifies as a sufficient condition. Using marijuana could offer temporary pain relief.<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, there are few scientific studies on the efficacy of marijuana products for minors, but the empirical evidence tends to support quality of life improvements. This is a vicious circle since it is hard to have marijuana products tested on children. Therefore there is little evidence, leading to more disbelief in the benefits of cannabis products for this age group. The products usually recommended include<\/span> CBD edibles<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> CBD tinctures<\/span><\/a>. Recreational use is strictly forbidden for minors and so is smoking as a delivery method. <\/span><\/p>\n Under Bill 523, it is prohibited to grow your own plants. The motivation behind this decision has to do both with controlling drugs and ensuring the quality of the medicinal marijuana. The legal provisions for producers are expected to be highly regulated to ensure that the plants have a high CBD concentration and lower THC levels. Individual growers with no background in agricultural knowledge and chemistry would have a hard time ensuring that the plants that they are harvesting are fit for medicinal purposes and are safe to be consumed by more sensitive users like the elderly and children.<\/span><\/p>\n Some sources advise that you grow small amounts (under 100g), by taking advantage of the decriminalized status, which could only result in a small penalty ($150). Assuming you don\u2019t want any trouble with the authorities, though, it is better to wait for the dispensaries to be set up (<\/span>6<\/span>). <\/span><\/p>\n Currently, the bill states that each user will be allowed to own a quantity sufficient to last them for 90 days at a time. This amount can be composed of different types of products, including plant parts, oils, tinctures, vaping cartridges, pills, and edibles.<\/span><\/p>\n The Pharmacy Board has yet to determine the amount of active substances allowed in each of these forms or as a total value. It is not clear yet if the amount will be based on the patient\u2019s individual needs or a general maximum.<\/span><\/p>\n Terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or less can be exempted from the 90 day rule and receive greater amounts of product in this 90-day period to help them improve their quality of life<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n The law states that, if you are a caregiver to multiple patients, you should keep the amounts for each person separately. <\/span><\/p>\n Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level and classified as a Schedule I substance, but states can have different legislation. However, due to this classification, if an employer requires you to take a drug test and you fail, they can terminate your contract (<\/span>8<\/span><\/a>). Ohio has not adopted a corresponding law provision like that of Arizona and Minnesota, which protects medical marijuana users and makes a clear distinction between recreational users in relationship with employers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Ohio Medical Marijuana<\/h2>\n
Guides for Patients and Caregivers<\/span><\/h2>\n
Qualifying Medical Conditions<\/h2>\n
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Where to Buy Medical Marijuana<\/h2>\n
When Will Medical Marijuana Be Available<\/h2>\n
Forms of Medical Marijuana<\/h2>\n
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Medical Marijuana for Minors<\/h2>\n
Growing Medical Marijuana for Personal Consumption<\/h2>\n
How Much Can You Legally Buy?<\/h2>\n
Can You Get Fired for Using Medical Marijuana?<\/h2>\n