Medical Marijuana Resources

On September 8, 2016, ​House Bill 523, legalized medical marijuana in Ohio. The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program allows people with certain medical conditions, upon the recommendation of an Ohio-licensed physician certified by the State Medical Board of Ohio, to purchase and use medical marijuana.

The State Medical Board is responsible for certifying physicians to recommend medical marijuana and may add to the list of qualifying conditions for which medical marijuana can be recommended.

 

Under Ohio law, only the following are qualifying medical conditions:

  • 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

  • inflammaotry 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

  • spasticity

  • spinal cord disease or injury

  • terminal illness

  • Tourette syndrome

  • traumatic brain injury

  • ulcerative colitis

  

 

Click here to view conditions submitted during the petition period the board has determined are already covered by an existing qualifying condition in the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP).

 

Petitions

The next petition submission period to add qualifying conditions will be November 1 - December 31, 2021.

 

Pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code 4731-32-05, the petition must detail:

(1) The name and contact information for the person submitting the petition.

(2) The specific disease or condition requested to be added as a qualifying condition;

(3) Information from experts who specialize in the study of the disease or condition;

(4) Relevant medical or scientific evidence pertaining to the disease or condition;

(5) Consideration of whether conventional medical therapies are insufficient to treat or alleviate the disease or condition;

(6) Evidence supporting the use of medical marijuana to treat or alleviate the disease or condition, including journal articles, peer-reviewed studies, and other types of medical or scientific documentation;

(7) Letters of support provided by physicians with knowledge of the disease or condition. This may include a letter provided by the physician treating the petitioner, if applicable.

 

Click here to view previously submitted petitions.

 

Next Steps

The State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO) met virtually on June 9 and discussed the petitions to add six new qualifying conditions to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP). After the discussion, the full board voted to accept 4 petitions and add Huntington’s disease, terminal illness (two petitions) and spasticity as qualifying conditions, effective immediately. The board also voted to reject the petitions for autism spectrum disorder, restless leg syndrome, panic disorder with agoraphobia and spasms. This brings the total number of qualifying conditions in the OMMCP to 25.

Under Ohio law, the following are qualifying medical conditions: 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, pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable, Parkinson’s disease, positive status for HIV, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, spasticity, spinal cord disease or injury, terminal illness, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and ulcerative colitis.

The next submission period is scheduled for Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, 2021.  Anyone may submit a petition requesting a condition be added to the OMMCP. If a condition has been previously rejected by the board, the new petition must contain new scientific information that supports the request. 

 

Standard of Care

All physicians with an active CTR must follow the full list of requirements in Rule 4731-32-03 Standard of Care in the Ohio Administrative Code.

 

Resources

  • If you are a physician and want to complete a Certificate to Recommend (CTR) application, click here. 

  • If you are a patient or caregiver and want to obtain a recommendation for medical marijuana, click here for a roster of physicians who hold a CTR.

  • OMMCP Helpline 1-833-4OH-MMCP (1-833-464-6627)

    • ​The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program Toll-Free Helpline responds to inquiries from patients, caregivers and health professionals regarding adverse reactions to medical marijuana, and provides information about available services and additional assistance as needed.

  • For questions about your CTR, email MedicalMarijuana@med.ohio.gov.

  • For technical difficulties accessing the Registry, call the Appriss Help Desk at 1-833-276-0100.

  • The Medical Board’s rules (Ohio Administrative Code) for the qualifying conditions can be found here: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4731-32-05.

  • Additional resources can be found on the medical marijuana website. 

  • FAQs

  • CTR eNews

  • CTR Annual Report

  • VIDEO For Physicians: How to Register Patients and Caregivers

  • VIDEO For Patients: Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program Overview