Ohio Board of Pharmacy Announces Location of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

5 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Columbus

In early June 2018, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced the 56 sites approved to be Ohio medical marijuana dispensaries.

The medical marijuana dispensaries that are approved and will open in Columbus are as follows:

• Greenleaf Apothecaries, LLC, 111 Vine Street
• 127 OH, LLC, 1361 Georgesville Road
• Cannamed Therapeutics, LLC, 656 Grandview Avenue
• Verdant Creations, LLC, Cassady Avenue
• Harvest of Ohio, LLC, 2950 N. High Street

The Board received 376 applications to sell medical marijuana and could award up to 60 provisional licenses.

Provisional license winners have six months to meet all requirements before they can begin selling medical marijuana to consumers.

Legalization of Medical Marijuana in Ohio

Ohio voted to legalize medical marijuana in March 2017. Under Ohio’s medical marijuana program, a licensed physician can prescribe medical marijuana for the following conditions or illnesses:

• HIV or AIDS
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Fibromyalgia
• Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• Hepatitis C
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Chronic pain - severe or intractable
• Parkinson's disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Sickle cell anemia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Spinal cord disease or injury
• Tourette's syndrome
• Crohn's disease
• Traumatic brain injury
• Ulcerative colitis

In spite of the legalization of medical marijuana in Ohio, it remains illegal to smoke marijuana.

Ohio medical marijuana dispensaries will be authorized to sell marijuana material for vaping, and in oil, tinctures, lotions, patches, and edibles.

Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program NOT Expected to be Fully Operational by September 8, 2018

Ohio’s medical marijuana program was supposed to be fully operational by September 8, 2018, but state officials acknowledge that this will not be the case.

Ohio’ Board of Pharmacy issued 25 licenses to cultivate marijuana, but none have been allowed to begin growing plants. Licenses for testing labs and processors have yet to be awarded.

How to Participate in Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program

If you suffer from one of the 21 qualifying medical conditions and a doctor recommends medical marijuana as a course of treatment, you can apply to participate in Ohio’s medical marijuana program.

Patients will to register through their doctor’s office and will be issued an electronic patient ID card. Their registration will be noted in the State’s controlled substances database and patients will need to present their ID when they buy medical marijuana at a dispensary.

Medical marijuana dispensaries must be located at least 500 feet from schools, churches libraries, and playgrounds. Local governments can restrict where medical marijuana businesses can operate, and many have banned them.

Dispensaries paid a $5,000 application fee per license, and licensees will pay a $70,000 license fee every other year.

It is illegal to grow marijuana in your home without a license.

How Much Marijuana Will Patients Be Able to Purchase?

The Board of Pharmacy has set purchase and possession limits organized by the total quantity of cannabinoid (THC) available in the final product and has proposed the following tiers based on THC concentration:

• Tier 1 - marijuana testing at or below 23% THC
• Tier 2 - marijuana testing about 23% but not more than 35%

Patients would be able to purchase:

• Up to 6 ounces of tier 1 marijuana every 90 days
• Up to 4 ounces of tier 2 marijuana every 90 days
• Up to 19,800 mg of THC in patches every 90 days
• Up to 9 grams of THC in oil, tincture, capsule, or edibles every 90 days
• Up to 40.5 grams of THC content in oil for vaporization every 90 days

Driving While Under the Influence of Marijuana Remains Illegal

Driving while under the influence of marijuana has not changed since medical marijuana became legal. Ohio’s medical marijuana program specifically prohibits registered patients from operating any of the following vehicles while under the influence of marijuana:

• A vehicle
• A streetcar
• Trolley without a track
• Watercraft
• Aircraft

It will remainpossible to be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of marijuana. Ohio has defined the following per se limits to establish intoxication by marijuana while driving:

• Marijuana metabolite
  • In blood - 50 nanograms per milliliter
  • In urine - 35 nanograms per milliliter
• Marijuana (THC)
  • In blood - 2 nanograms per milliliter
  • In urine - 10 nanograms per milliliter

Anyone caught driving with the presence of marijuana above these limits can be charged with DUI and will face up to 6 months in prison, a license suspension of up to 3 years, may be required to pay fines of up to $1,075, and risks having a misdemeanor charge added to their criminal record.

While patients are not permitted to be under the influence of medical marijuana while driving, it will be legal to transport marijuana products in their original packaging in a secure location in the vehicle.

A person charged with possession of marijuana faces fines of up to $150 for a first offense.

Questions About Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Program? Contact Wolfe Legal Services Today

If you have questions about Ohio's new medical marijuana law, contact Wolfe Legal Services today.

I have more than 23 years’ experience serving people throughout greater Columbus, including Dublin, Worthington, Westerville, Bexley, Delaware, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Marysville, Hilliard, Delaware, and Newark, and throughout Franklin County, Delaware County, Pickaway County, Fairfield County, Union County, and Licking County. Call or Text (614) 263-5297 any time or complete our secure, confidential, and free online form located on the home page.