Medical Cannabis Now Legal in Ohio
Medical cannabis is now legal in Ohio thanks to House Bill 523 taking effect. Unfortunately, however, legal cannabis sales won’t begin for another 18 to 24 months as the state’s medical cannabis industry gets up and running.
Under the new law, those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician will be allowed to possess up to a 90-day supply of cannabis, including edibles, oils and topicals. A 90-day supply is determined by the patients physician. Qualifying conditions include Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), fibromyalgia, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic intractable pain, Parkinson’s disease, post traumatic stress disorder; sickle cell anemia; spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette’s syndrome, ulcerative colitis and traumatic brain injury.
The new law also allows medical cannabis dispensaries – to be supplied by licensed cultivation centers – though these aren’t expected to be open until sometime in 2018. The new industry is being overseen by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Board of Pharmacy, the State Medical Board and a new advisory committee.
Initial industry rules are expected to be ruled out later this month.
