Obtaining Medical Marijuana

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Obtaining medical marijuana through Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP) involves three basic steps:

1. Visit a certified physician who can confirm that you have one of the medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana and have the physician create your profile in the Patient & Caregiver Registry.
2. Confirm and complete your registration for the program through the OMMCP Patient & Caregiver Registry.
3. Purchase medical marijuana from an approved dispensary in Ohio.

The first step to become a medical marijuana patient is to establish and maintain a bona fide physician-patient relationship with a certified physician.

• An in-person visit with a certified physician is required at least once per year.
• Certified physicians have access to the Patient Registry and will submit their recommendations for a patient to receive medical marijuana directly to the Patient Registry.
• The physician will need the patient’s valid Ohio driver's license, a valid Ohio identification card issued by the Ohio bureau of motor vehicles (BMV), or a valid United States passport.
• A registered caregiver may possess and administer medical marijuana to patients with whom the caregiver's registration is associated. The certified physician will need similar identification from a caregiver to establish their profile in the Patient Registry.
• A certified physician can recommend up to a 90-day supply of medical marijuana with three refills (totaling up to 360-day supply if appropriate for the patient).

• Physicians who wish to recommend medical marijuana in Ohio must have an active Certificate to Recommend (CTR) from the State Medical Board of Ohio. If your current physician does not have an active CTR, you can find a certified physician here.

• Only patients with one of the following medical conditions may currently participate in Ohio’s medical marijuana program: AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, 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, spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and ulcerative colitis.

• Once a recommending physician has entered a patient or caregiver into the registry, the patient/caregiver will receive an email prompting them to login to their profile in the Patient Registry. In the registry, complete your application and pay the fee.
• The annual cost of a medical marijuana registration is $50 for patients and $25 for caregivers. Patients who qualify for indigent or veteran status may be eligible for fee reductions.

• After receiving your Patient & Caregiver Registry card, you may purchase medical marijuana from an Ohio dispensary licensed by the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
• Dispensary staff will counsel you on the appropriate type and dose of product for your condition.
• Only patients with an active registry card, an active recommendation, and their associated government-issued ID can purchase medical marijuana.
• Find medical marijuana near you by clicking here. During the early months of Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program, the industry responsible for growing, producing and testing these products is in start-up phase and may have limited inventory available. Also, not all proposed dispensary locations will be fully licensed and open for business.

*Information from the Official Ohio Medical Marijuana Program website