EDUCATED PATIENT

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.

1. See A Physician

The first step to become a medical marijuana patient is to establish and maintain a 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).

Certified Physicians

• Physicians who wish to recommend medical marijuana in Ohio must have an active Certificate to Recommend (CTR) from the State Medical Board of Ohio.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

• 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.

2. Get Registered

• 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.

3. Find a Dispensary

• 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.

To qualify to get your Ohio Medical Marijuana Card you must have one of the following Qualifying Conditions

• AIDS
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• 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
• Ulcerative Colitis

45 Day Fill Period and Tier I and Tier 2 Education

As of April 17, 2020, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has simplified the process for patients, caregivers, and dispensaries to calculate days’ supply. It is worth noting that the overall legal limits defining a 90-day supply have not changed, just the rules regarding how that supply is apportioned.

https://medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/Documents/90DaySupply/Documents/90-Day%20Supply%20Resolution%20and%20Guidance.pdf
Cited source: Ohio Laws & Rules Website

How do the new 45-day fill periods work?

The highlights of the new process are as follows:

• Each patient’s 90-day recommendation is now divided into two 45-day fill periods based upon the patent’s current, active recommendation.
• You can now purchase a full 45-day supply regardless of when you visit the dispensary during that 45-day fill period. For example: if a patient who has not yet purchased any product during the current fill period visits the dispensary on day 25; that patient may purchase up to a 45-day supply of medical marijuana.
• If you purchase your 45-day allotment before the end of your current fill period, you must wait for the new period to begin before you may purchase additional medical marijuana
• There is no rollover from one fill period to the next. For example: if you do not purchase any medical marijuana within your current 45-day fill period, you can still only purchase a maximum of a 45-day supply when the next fill period begins.