Medical Marijuana in Ohio
In June 2016, Governor John Kasich signed HB 523 into law making Ohio the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 2018 when the program officially launched, and patient sales began. The law allows individuals with qualifying medical conditions to use medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation, as well as established a regulatory framework for regulating the cultivation, processing, and sale of medical marijuana in the state. As of March 2023, there are over 355,358 registered patients in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program.
The residents of Ohio may see an adult-use program in their future as recreational legalization is headed to the ballot in November 2023.
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Cannabis in Ohio
Under Ohio law, the qualifying medical conditions need to be determined as severe, or pain that is either chronic or intractable and includes the following: 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; Parkinson’s disease; positive status for HIV; post-traumatic stress disorder; sickle cell anemia; Spasticity; spinal cord disease or injury; terminal illness; Tourette syndrome; traumatic brain injury; and ulcerative colitis.
In February 2021, the State Medical Board of Ohio determined the following conditions are considered covered by an existing qualifying condition: arthritis; chronic migraines; and complex region pain syndrome.
Authorized Forms of Medicinal Marijuana in Ohio
The following forms of medical marijuana are authorized: oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles, lotions, creams, and patches. The law prohibits the use of medical marijuana by smoking or combustion but does allow for vaporization (vaping).
Types of Licenses & Fees
- Cultivation
- Level I application fee: $20,000
- Level I license fee: $180,000
- Level II application fee: $2,000
- Level II license fee: $18,000
- Processing
- Application fee: $10,000
- License fee: $90,000
- Dispensary
- Testing Laboratory
- Application fee: $2,000
- License fee: $18,000
Upcoming Applications for Medical Marijuana Business Licenses
Currently, Ohio is not accepting any applications.
Under Ohio law, the regulations limit the number licenses to: twelve (12) Level I Cultivator Provisional licenses and twelve (12) Level II Cultivator Provisional licenses, as well as up to forty (40) Processor licenses. As there are no ownership restrictions, each license allows you to conduct a specific vertical integration within the cannabis supply chain.
If the proposed legislation SB 9 passes, Ohio’s medical marijuana program would permit expansion on the number of cultivators and dispensaries permitted in the state. With recreational use in the near future, now is the time to work with a Team of experts to shape your competitive business! Contact us today to discuss your options.
Last Updated: June 6th, 2023