How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio

A medical marijuana card offers benefits, credibility, and legal protection to those using cannabis for medical purposes. You can save on state and local taxes with a medical card, and also gain access to dispensaries with high-quality and reliable cannabis products.

To get a medical marijuana card in Ohio, you must be 18 or older with proof of the state residency. If you are under 18, you need a caregiver to register. Besides age and residency requirements, you must fit into one or more of the twenty-five qualifying medical conditions with a certified physician’s medical approval or recommendation.

Once your physician registers you as a patient with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, you need to pay an annual registration fee of $50. If you are younger than 18 or disabled, your patient card will be assigned to a caregiver who must be a legal resident of Ohio and at least 21 years of age. The fee for caregivers is $25.

What are the qualifying conditions for medical marijuana cards in Ohio?

The State of Ohio has identified 25 illnesses that qualify patients for the use of medical marijuana. These include:

• AIDS
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia
• Cancer
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Huntington’s disease
• 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
• Spasticity
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Terminal illness
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis

What are the benefits of a medical marijuana card in Ohio?

A medical marijuana card in Ohio gives you the legal right to relieve some chronic pain or illnesses by consuming cannabis. Currently, there are 25 such ailments identified by the state.

When you visit a local cannabis dispensary, your marijuana card places you among the top-priority customers. You can get high-quality products at reduced prices. A marijuana card also enables you to carry cannabis without breaking the law.

Who can apply for a medical marijuana card in Ohio?

You can apply for a medical marijuana card in Ohio if you are 18 years of age or older and show signs of one or more of the twenty-five qualifying conditions. You need approval from a licensed physician to apply for the card. If you are younger than 18, you’ll need a caregiver to apply on your behalf.

What can you purchase with a medical marijuana card in Ohio?

If you have a medical marijuana card in Ohio, you can purchase edibles, cannabis oils, tinctures, plant material, lotions, creams, vapes, and patches for pain relief. You can purchase up to 4.45 grams of medical cannabis with your card, which is expected to last for 45 days. The Ohio government states that patients can not purchase more than a 90-day supply of medical marijuana at one time.

What is the registration process for getting a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio?

The registration process for getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio comprises three basic steps:

• Documentation
• Consultation with a certified physician
• Paying the registration fees

Documentation

To get your medical marijuana card in Ohio, you need to provide documentation of our identification and residency. This can be as simple as an Ohio-issued driver’s license with your current address, or if you do not have this, you can provide documents such as your passport, a utility bill, lease agreement, or any of the other various documents approved by the Ohio Board Pharmacy.

Before fixing an appointment with the physician, ensure that all your medical records are in place. It’s a good idea to write down all your symptoms and go through them at least once before you meet with the doctor.

Consultation with a certified physician

You must make your appointment with a physician certified by the State of Ohio to prescribe medical marijuana. If you find the search a bit tedious, you can seek help from a telehealth provider.

During your consultation, which usually lasts an hour, the physician will carefully evaluate your medical condition to ascertain whether you suffer from any illness on the state-approved list. Once you get the approval, you will be registered with Ohio’s Patient and Caregiver Registry. You’ll have to pay a registration fee to complete the process. Then, an activation link will be sent to your email.

Paying the registration fee

To pay your medical marijuana card registration fee, you will need to fill out the application form which takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. You’ll be asked to create a patient profile and upload all the requisite information. The link is valid for 90 days, so make sure you don’t delay your registration.

In Ohio, patients are required to pay a registration fee of $50 to activate their medical marijuana card. The registration fee for caregivers is $25. You’ll have to renew your card annually by paying this fee.

The Medical Marijuana Registration Program entitles veterans and lower-income patients to buy cannabis products by paying reduced registration fees. In some cases, the prices can be reduced up to 50%.

How long does it take to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio?

Getting your medical marijuana card in Ohio takes around 3-4 weeks from the date of payment of the registration fees. Once your card is delivered, you can start shopping at cannabis dispensaries in Ohio.

Is it legal to consume medical marijuana in Ohio?

Ohio legalized the consumption of medical cannabis in 2016 when Governor John Kasich signed B523. This led to the inception of the Medical Marijuana Control Program.

With a medical card, you’re allowed to consume cannabis in private. You’re advised to buy cannabis only from a dispensary licensed by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

Fee reduction for veteran or indigent status

You can apply for a fee reduction if you’re a veteran or have indigent status. Qualifying applicants should not pay the registration fee until their status is approved by the Board of Pharmacy. The board will review all the necessary documents and only then approve the special status. A refund will not be issued if payment for the registration fee was already submitted.

What can an Ohio caregiver do with a medical marijuana card?

Caregivers who are linked to the patient by the patient’s doctor can purchase medical marijuana on the patient’s behalf. The caregiver must have their registration approved by the Board of Pharmacy. A caregiver can only purchase medical marijuana on the designated patient’s behalf.

Can a patient view a list of associated caregivers?

First, you need to ensure you are registered as a patient. On the Registry page, you’ll find the Registry Details Section. Under it, you’ll find a tab called “Caregivers.” If you click on the tab, you’ll find the list of caregivers associated with the patient.

Registering a patient in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program

Before registering as a patient, you should visit a certified doctor to confirm you have an underlying condition that requires the use of medical marijuana. The physician will create a profile in the Patient and Caregiver Registry. Through this registry, you can confirm and complete your registration process. A medical marijuana patient overview video is available to help you complete the registration process.

Registering a caregiver in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program

The patient must notify a physician about choosing a caregiver. The physician will create a profile for the caregiver in the Patient and Caregiver Registry. It’s compulsory for an underage patient to have a caregiver. The caregiver can further complete the Patient and Caregiver Registry registration process. They can watch the “Completing Caregiver Registration” video on the Medical Marijuana Control Program website. The Board of Pharmacy has to approve the registration for the program to be activated.