FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OHIO’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW

Q: What are the qualifying conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana?

A: 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. The medical board will take petitions Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 to possibly add conditions. A panel of experts will review and make recommendations to the full board, which will decide next year whether to add qualifying conditions.

Q: Do patients need to register?

A: Yes. All patients and caregivers are required to register with the State Board of Pharmacy.

Q: How long is the registration valid?

A: Generally, one year.

Q: Where will patients be able to purchase medical marijuana?

A: At retail dispensaries licensed by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Currently, 56 dispensaries have provisional licenses and are seeking certificates of operation.

Q: What forms of medical marijuana will be available?

A: Oils, tinctures, plant material, edibles and patches. The law prohibits the use of medical marijuana by smoking or combustion, but does allows for vaping. The law prohibits any form that is attractive to children.