08/26/2016

Medical Marijuana Legislation Signed by Governor

Ohio becomes the 25th state to allow some form of legal marijuana use

House Bill 523, introduced by Rep. Stephen Huffman (R – Tipp City), permits physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients. The bill was signed into law by Gov. John Kasich on June 8.

The law puts a number of restrictions on prescribing. For example, marijuana cannot be prescribed in a smokeable or combustible form, and patients would not be permitted to grow their own product. The law also requires the registration of patients and caregivers, licensure of medical marijuana cultivators and dispensaries, and registration of physicians that recommend treatment with medical marijuana.

The legislation will officially go into effect on September 8, 2016, but some aspects will not be fully implemented for up to 2 years. In the meantime, Ohio regulatory agencies will begin developing rules and regulations for use of medical marijuana. The State of Ohio has set up a website for updates on the process.