How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio

What is an MMJ Card in Ohio?

An Ohio medical marijuana card is a state-issued identification card that lets the bearer buy, store, and ingest medical marijuana. House Bill 523, signed into law in June 2016, allows the use of medical marijuana in Ohio. It also created the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program to regulate the use of medical marijuana. Although the Federal Controlled Substance Act recognizes marijuana as a Schedule I drug, Ohio allows its residents to use it if they have medical marijuana cards. Patients are allowed to use medical marijuana to alleviate the symptoms of particularly debilitating medical conditions. The Ohio Medical Board maintains a list of qualifying conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In Ohio, card-carrying medical marijuana patients and caregivers can buy up to a 45-day supply of medical cannabis. What makes up a 45-day supply is determined by THC levels and can include creams, edibles, combustible flowers, lotions, oils, patches, and tinctures. However, patients must use their medication in private and are not allowed to smoke cannabis.

The Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) of the Ohio Department of Commerce (ODC) coordinates the activities of medical marijuana patients and caregivers. It registers and issues medical marijuana cards to adults. It also accepts applications from children, but parents or legal guardians must provide their written consent and agree to function as caregivers.

Who Can Apply for an MMJ Card in Ohio?

Ohio will allow you to apply for a medical marijuana identification card if you are:

• An adult, 18 years or older

• Persons under 18 years of age must assign a caregiver who is 21 years of age or older

• Dealing with a current diagnosis of a qualifying and debilitating medical condition

• An Ohio resident with proof of residency in the form of:

• A driver's license

• A state-issued identification card

• A patient of a Certified Ohio Marijuana Doctor who believes medical marijuana treatment is in your best interest.

Can a Minor Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio?

While Ohio allows minors with qualifying health conditions to use medical marijuana, it does not issue them medical marijuana cards. For a minor to obtain medical marijuana in Ohio, their parents or legal guardian must give their consent. To do this, the parent or guardian must apply to be the child's caregiver and take responsibility for buying, storing, and disseminating the recommended dosage.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Cards in Ohio in 2024?

You can only apply for a medical marijuana card in Ohio if you have a current diagnosis for any of the 22 qualifying conditions. If you do not have any of these conditions, your physician may not certify you and the Medical Marijuana Control Program will deny your application. Below is the list of qualifying medical conditions:

• AIDS

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/ Lou Gehrig's disease

• Alzheimer's disease

• Cachexia, wasting syndrome

• Chronic, severe, or intractable pain

• Cancer

• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy

• Crohn's disease

• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders

• Fibromyalgia

• Glaucoma

• Hepatitis C

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson's disease

• HIV-positive status

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Sickle cell anemia

• Spinal cord injury or disease

• Tourette syndrome

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

• Ulcerative colitis

How Do I Apply for an MMJ Card in Ohio in 2024?

If you are an Ohio state resident and are suffering from a debilitating medical condition that you think may qualify for marijuana treatment, follow these steps:

• Look through the list of qualifying medical conditions and ensure that you have a diagnosis for one of them. The best way to prove that you have a diagnosis is to get a hold of medical records that state the diagnosis. You can get your medical records by submitting a patient access request at your doctor or specialist's office.

• Having obtained your medical records, take a valid, state-issued ID card, and go to one of the state's medical marijuana clinics. These are special clinics with an active Certificate to Recommend (CTR) from the State Medical Board of Ohio. One of the doctors at the clinic will look through your medical records and then perform an exam. If the doctor's examination corroborates your medical records, they will create a profile for you in the Ohio Patient & Caregiver Registry. You will then receive an email with a link to click and follow to your Profile on the Registry

• Log onto the Patient & Caregiver Registry to confirm your identity and complete your registration

• If you are applying as a caregiver, the patient designating you must inform the recommending physician. The physician will then create your profile in the Registry too. You can then confirm and complete your registration in the Registry.

• After providing your registration details, click Activate Card to pay the registration fee. Annual registration costs 1 cent.

• After paying the registration fee, you can download a copy of your Ohio medical marijuana card and print it out.

How Does a Primary Caregiver Get an Ohio MMIC?

In Ohio, a caregiver is anyone that a medical marijuana patient designates to buy, transport, store, and administer medical cannabis on their behalf. Parents, guardians, nurses, spouses, or any other person can be a caregiver. A single patient can have up to three caregivers in Ohio, while a caregiver can care for up to three patients. To qualify as a caregiver in Ohio, you must:

• Be above 21 years old;

• Be an Ohio resident with a valid driver's license or state-issued ID

As with patients, caregivers must obtain Ohio medical marijuana identification cards to buy medical cannabis. The process for getting an Ohio MMJ card as a caregiver is as follows:

• The patient and caregiver must agree to have a working relationship. In a child's case, the parent or legal guardian must be the caregiver or nominate someone else for the responsibility.

• When the patient visits any of Ohio's medical marijuana clinics for an assessment, they must inform the doctor about their caregiver. If the doctor supports the patient's use of medical cannabis, they will create profiles for both caregiver and patient on the Registry.

• The caregiver can then confirm and complete their registration on their profile. When they pay the 1-cent annual registration fee, they can download and print their medical marijuana identification card.

How long does it take to get an Ohio MMIC?

If you are applying to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio, the initial consultation at the medical marijuana clinic may take about fifteen minutes. However, the entire application process - from the consultation to downloading your MMJ card - can take up to three weeks.

Getting an Ohio Medical Marijuana Card Online

Ohio only accepts online applications for MMJ cards through its Patient & Caregiver Registry. However, patients and caregivers must start the process by visiting physicians approved to recommend medical cannabis in Ohio. The state requires physicians to initiate patient and caregiver registrations online if they recommend medical cannabis treatment.

How Much Does a Medical Marijuana Card Cost in Ohio?

The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program charges 1 cent for a patient or caregiver card. This change became effective on March 4, 2024. The DCC plans to make medical marijuana registration cards free in Ohio.

How Do I Renew My Ohio Medical Marijuana Card?

If you have a medical marijuana card, you can renew it within 30 days of expiration or after it expires. You will need to obtain a new recommendation from a physician to renew your medical cannabis card. After getting this recommendation, log onto your profile on the Patient & Caregiver Registry and click the "Renew Card" button and pay the annual 1 cent renewal fee. Return to the homepage of your account profile and you will find the renewed card ready to download.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Medical Cannabis Card in Ohio?

To apply for a medical cannabis card, you need to have the following documents:

• Your medical records that clearly state your current diagnosis with one of the qualifying medical conditions;

• Proof of Ohio residency, in the form of an Ohio-issued driver's license or identification card.

Are My Details Kept Confidential When I Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Ohio?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that guides client confidentiality processes in the healthcare industry. The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program operates under HIPAA, and ensures that the public cannot, at any time, access client details. Thus, your details are kept confidential when you apply for a medical marijuana card in Ohio.

What Information Appears On An Ohio Medical Marijuana Card?

An Ohio medical marijuana identification card will include the following details:

• Role: Patient or Caregiver

• Patient/Caregiver's name and date of birth

• The card's issuance and expiry date

• Recommendation expiration date

• The patient/caregiver's Registry ID number

Can Someone Track Me Down Through The Ohio Registry?

Third parties cannot locate patients through the Ohio medical marijuana registry. The registry operates under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and keeps patient information strictly confidential.