The Consequences of Getting Ohio Medical Marijuana Card

It was the year 2016 when the state of Ohio legalized the use of medical marijuana across the state via House Bill 523. In these 8 years, the state of Ohio has upgraded and expanded its medical marijuana program for the benefit of qualifying patients across the state. Although having a medical marijuana card in Ohio means that you’ll be provided legal amnesty for possessing and consuming medical marijuana as per the state’s medical marijuana laws, you may have to face some consequences for having this card. Our experts at CertaMD have gathered a list of consequences that you might have to face as an Ohio-based medical marijuana user and cardholder.

Positive Consequences

Access to a diverse range of products

In the state of Ohio, medical marijuana cardholders have access to a broad selection of cannabis products. Whether it’s oils, tinctures, edibles, or flowers, patients can find products tailored to their specific medical conditions, allowing for more personalized treatment options.

Strict quality control measures

Dispensaries in Ohio ensure that the cannabis sold is tested for potency and contaminants, providing a safer alternative to products from unregulated sources. This rigorous testing guarantees patients are consuming quality, safe products for their health needs.

Availability of thorough medical guidance

Medical marijuana patients in Ohio benefit from professional medical advice as part of their treatment plans. Physicians with a Certificate to Recommend (CTR) guide patients in using cannabis effectively, ensuring it complements their overall medical care.

State-guaranteed legal protection

Holding a medical marijuana card in Ohio grants patients legal access to purchase and possess cannabis from licensed dispensaries. This legal protection allows patients to purchase the required medical marijuana products without fear of prosecution, considering that they adhere to the state regulations.

Potential Drawbacks

Lack of a widespread medical marijuana dispensary network

Before the year 2024, accessing medical marijuana was almost impossible even with a valid medical marijuana card. There was no extensive state-operated dispensary network that could offer medical marijuana to registered patients as the only way a registered medical marijuana user could access the required products was through these dispensaries. Fortunately, things have changed for the good now. Leading dispensaries such as Bloom Medicinals and Terrsana have made access to medical marijuana possible for almost 70% of the registered medical marijuana users within the state of Ohio.

Excessively high cost of obtaining and then using a medical marijuana card

The state of Ohio legalized the use of recreational cannabis for its adult residents in the year 2023. This means that anyone who is older than 21 and is a permanent resident of the state of Ohio can legally possess or consume a defined amount of cannabis. The possession limit for recreational cannabis is lower than that of medical marijuana, but you don’t need to get a medical marijuana card. The state of Ohio is going to charge a $50 application fee for your medical marijuana card. Apart from this, you’ll have to pay your medical marijuana evaluation appointment fee as well which can start from $299. If you decide to go with an online appointment booking service provider like CertaMD, the cost of booking your appointment can get as low as $199!

A very lengthy application process

The whole process of getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio is quite lengthy and can be quite confusing if you’re on your own. The process starts with you booking your consultation with a certified medical marijuana physician within the state of Ohio. Once the appointment is confirmed, you’ll be evaluated by a certified medical physician, including looking at your previous medical records. If everything goes well, the office of your physician will notify the state’s Board of Pharmacy regarding the decision. The physician will also help you register with the Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient registry. Now you need to pay the $50 state application fee and wait till the state approves your application. After approval, you can expect to receive a printed version of your card in a few weeks.

Not eligible to own a firearm or a CDL

Even though having a medical marijuana card in Ohio does provide you legal immunities for cannabis consumption and possession under state law, there are certain legal boundaries administered by federal laws that you can’t cross. Owing a firearm is one of such boundaries as the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has explicitly mentioned that using cannabis in any capacity disqualifies you from owning a firearm as cannabis is categorized as a Schedule I substance as per the federal regulations. The same stance is adopted by the Department Of Transportation when it comes to Commercial Driving Licenses (CDLs).

Social stigma associated with the use of marijuana

Even though it’s been almost 8 years since the day when medical marijuana became legal for consumption within the state of Ohio, there is still a social stigma associated with marijuana consumption. The 2023 legalization of recreational cannabis within Ohio has surely helped to make this stigma obsolete, but we still have a very long way to go. Also, many of the qualifying patients don’t apply for a medical marijuana card because it might become a permanent part of the patient’s medical record. In any case, it is very unlikely that a person’s medical records would be available to third-party companies or agents due to HIPAA compliance.

Final Note

For most of the patients, the pros of having an Ohio medical marijuana card definitely outweigh the cons of it. However, it’s better to have a solid idea of the potential consequences of getting a medical marijuana card in Ohio to have a good idea about the things you can and can’t do with your card.

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