Ohio Medical Marijuana List of Conditions 2023

If you’ve been searching for a natural, holistic approach to health and wellness, you may have come across medical marijuana as an option. But to obtain a prescription and license for medical marijuana in the state of Ohio, you’ll have to meet a few basic requirements—including receiving a diagnosis for a qualifying medical condition.^[1]

Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio since 2016, and the state’s process for applying for a prescription is relatively simple.^[2] Yet, there are two considerable barriers to entry: obtaining a diagnosis from a healthcare provider and paying associated fees.

In this guide, we’ll focus primarily on the first of these two barriers—diagnoses—as well as Ohio’s program specifics so that you can determine whether your condition qualifies, learn how to apply, and discover whether the natural healing potential of medical marijuana may be right for you.

Medical Cannabis in Ohio: A Brief History

Marijuana legalization was first put to a vote in 2015—if it had passed, it would have legalized both medical and recreational marijuana use in Ohio.^[3] While the bill didn’t pass, the discussions that surrounded the ballot measure demonstrated a wide public interest in marijuana.

In response to continued public interest, Ohio’s state Congress passed House Bill 523 in 2016, officially legalizing medical marijuana in the state.

But House Bill 523 also established that:

• Caregivers of sick patients could apply for medical marijuana cards on their patients’ behalves
• Possession of small amounts of marijuana not sourced through legal channels would only be charged as a misdemeanor crime, an important measure in ongoing decriminalization efforts

The law also established Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, a group of representatives from a variety of fields (e.g. medicine, pharmacy, law enforcement, and patient advocacy) that make recommendations on the continuous development of regulations.

How Ohio’s Medical Cannabis Program Works

Applying for and receiving a medical marijuana card in Ohio is relatively simple:^[4]

1. Visit a healthcare provider with a certificate to recommend (CTR) – Ohio state residents must first visit a healthcare provider with a state-issued certificate to recommend (CTR). A list of physicians with CTRs is available on the State Medical Board’s website. Patients must visit with their CTR physician at least once per year to renew their prescription.
2. Complete registration – The prescribing CTR physician will enter the patient’s name and other information into the state’s Patient Registry. After they do so, patients will be prompted to complete their registration via email. During this process, they’ll pay the annual registration fee: $50 for patients and $25 for caregivers. It’s important to note here that there are fee waivers available for veterans or residents with “indigent status.”
3. Find a dispensaries – In Ohio, medical marijuana is only available for purchase at licensed dispensaries. Patients need their active registry card, an active physician’s recommendation, and a valid government-issued ID to purchase medical marijuana.

Ohio’s List of Qualifying Conditions

The list of conditions that qualify patients for a medical marijuana prescription in Ohio is still evolving. For instance, the Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee is currently considering adding autism, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to the list of qualifying conditions (though they haven’t been approved yet).^[5]

The current list of conditions (last updated in 2021) includes:^[6]

• AIDS
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cachexia
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Huntington’s disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Severe pain (that is chronic or intractable), including:
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic migraines
  • Complex region pain syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• HIV
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Sickle cell anemia
• Spasticity
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis

You can stay up to date on the list of qualifying conditions by visiting the Ohio State Medical Marijuana Control Program’s website.

Apply for Your Ohio Medical Marijuana Certificate With TeleLeaf

If you live in Ohio and are suffering from a condition that may qualify you for medical marijuana, the time to apply for a medical marijuana certificate and find hope through healing is now. And you don’t have to go it alone—the compassionate, caring experts at TeleLeaf can help.

We’re the number one online platform for medical marijuana card registration because we’re patients ourselves. We’ve been where you’ve been, so we understand the importance of making the application process as easy, stress-free, and efficient as possible. Simply fill out our online intake form, and we’ll connect you with a licensed provider who’ll walk you through the process one step at a time.

If you’re looking for relief from epilepsy, glaucoma, or any of the other conditions on the list above, it’s time to take action. To learn more about applying for a medical marijuana card in Ohio, contact us today!

Sources:

^[1] Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules. Rule 3796:7-2-01 | Procedure for Patient Registration. https://codes.ohio.gov/

^[2] State Medical Board of Ohio. State Medical Board of Ohio Position Statement – Medical COnditions Covered By Existing Qualifying COnditions in the OMMCP. https://med.ohio.gov/Portals/0/Medical%20Conditions%20Covered%20by%20Existing%20Qualifying%20Conditions%20in%20the%20OMMCP%20Positition%20Statement_4_29_21.pdf

^[3] Health Policy Institute of Ohio. Medical Marijuana in Ohio. https://www.healthpolicyohio.org/medical-marijuana-resource-page/

^[4] Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. Quick Reference Guide: How to Obtain Medical Marijuana. https://med.ohio.gov/Publications/CTR-Search

^[5] Dayton Daily News. Ohio Medical Marijuana Conditions: Autism, OCD, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Being Considered. https://www.daytondailynews.com

^[6] Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. Frequently Asked Questions. https://medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/faqs